UEFA has released a statement confirming that England and other European nations will boycott the World Cup over Gianni Infantino's plans to sell off stakes in the tournament to private investors.
UEFA statement
In a statement, UEFA said its national associations "unanimously and unequivocally reject" the proposal and will not compete in FIFA competitions. The full statement reads: "UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions." It adds: "We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors."
Impact on future tournaments
The boycott represents a major blow for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, whose plan to sell a stake in the World Cup has faced furious backlash. Without the participation of UEFA nations, including football powerhouses like England, the legitimacy and commercial viability of future World Cups would be severely undermined.
