FIFA's plan to sell stakes in World Cup competitions to private investors is facing strong opposition from continental confederations ahead of a scheduled vote on September 19, 2026.
UEFA announced a boycott of FIFA competitions after an emergency meeting of its 55 member associations on Thursday, signaling unified European resistance to the initiative.
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Despite the pushback, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has maintained his stance, with FIFA confirming on Friday morning that it will continue its consultation process.
Approval of the proposal requires a simple majority of 106 votes from FIFA's 211 member associations, along with backing from the FIFA High Council.
Opposition from UEFA, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) commands a combined total of 150 votes, well above the threshold needed to block the measure if members vote along confederation lines.
Confederations Voice Concerns
Concacaf officially rejected the proposal following an emergency meeting of its 41 members on Thursday.
"The discussion reinforced the need for greater transparency and proper governance," Concacaf stated, though it stopped short of joining the official boycott.
The AFC, representing 47 members, issued a statement on Friday morning confirming its alignment with European and North American governing bodies.
"The fact that the situation has reached the point where the real possibility of a World Cup boycott has entered public discourse should concern everyone who cares about the future of our game," the AFC stated.
The Asian confederation noted that the current strategy fails to build the consensus needed for global football reform.
