欧足联及其55个成员协会于7月30日投票通过决议，宣布将抵制世界杯和所有FIFA赛事，以反对国际足联创建商业子公司并向私人投资者出售股权的计划[1][4][5]。UEFA表示，只要该提案仍然存在，欧洲国家队将不参加任何FIFA竞赛，除非FIFA完全放弃该方案并提供具有约束力的保证，承诺FIFA治理和竞赛不会再向私人所有权开放[5]。
国际足联计划创建名为FIFA Forward Enterprise（FFE）的商业子公司，估值约20亿美元，目标在今年内融资最高4.2亿美元，通过出售非控制性少数股权给私募投资者[1][4][7]。FIFA主席詹尼·因凡蒂诺向211个全球成员协会提供每家2000万美元的激励，要求在9月19日前提交书面支持[1][2][4]。核心投资方为纽约投资公司，由约书亚·库什纳创办[3][7]。
多个足球洲联对该计划表示强烈反对。UEFA称该计划"极其有问题且不可接受"，并指出"世界杯不是投资产品，不应被出售给私人投资者"[4]。德国足协主席伯恩德·诺因多夫表示，若UEFA拒绝批准该计划，"那么它就死了"[1]。美洲足联（CONCACAF）41个成员也拒绝了该提议[7]。亚洲足球联合会主席谢赫·萨尔曼警告该举措"威胁破坏欧洲大陆足球的基础"[7]。
FIFA声称若获批，可从2027年起为足球发展提供100亿美元资金[1][2]。但反对者认为这一计划缺乏透明度且未进行有意义的协商，违反了民主程序，威胁足球的独立性[5]。下一届FIFA赛事定于9月5日在波兰举办女子U-20世界杯[3][7]。
UEFA and its 55 member associations have unanimously decided to boycott all FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, in opposition to FIFA's plan to monetize its operations through private investment.[1][4][5] At a meeting held on July 30, FIFA President Gianni Infantino unveiled a proposal to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a commercial subsidiary valued at approximately $2 billion, with the goal of raising up to $420 million this year by selling minority equity stakes to private investors.[1][2][4] The private equity consortium involved includes a New York-based investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner.[3][7]
UEFA's statement declared that "the World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product" and stated that no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition as long as the proposals remain active, unless FIFA entirely abandons the initiative and provides binding assurances that it will never again allow private ownership of its governance or competitions.[4][5] Germany's football federation president Bernd Neuendorf characterized the plan as "extremely problematic and unacceptable," stating that "if UEFA rejects this request (for approval of the plan), then it is dead."[1][4] FIFA has requested that all 211 member associations submit written support for the proposal by September 19.[1][2][4]
The plan has triggered resistance beyond Europe. CONCACAF, representing 41 member nations in the Americas, has similarly rejected the proposal, with the two continental bodies combined representing nearly half of FIFA's total voting members.[7] The Asian Football Confederation has also expressed concerns, with AFC President Sheikh Salman warning that the move threatens to "undermine the foundations of football across the continent."[7] To encourage acceptance, Infantino has offered each FIFA member $20 million in incentive funds, contingent on approval by mid-September.[3][7] FIFA has stated that if approved, the scheme could provide $10 billion for global football development from 2027 onward, with each confederation potentially receiving up to $20 million in one-time rapid advance funding.[1][2]