European football's 55 member associations have voted to boycott World Cups if the sport's governing body proceeds with a plan to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors.
The decision was made at an emergency meeting called to discuss the proposal announced earlier this week by Fifa, which oversees world football.
Uefa, which governs European football, had already made its opposition clear by releasing two damning statements - and that strength of feeling has been reaffirmed.
"The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product," it said on Thursday.
"It is one of football's greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent. No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale."
Uefa's boycott would cover all Fifa competitions, including the men's and women's World Cups and Club World Cup, and be triggered if Fifa president Gianni Infantino's proposals are voted through by member associations.
The first time this stance will be tested at a senior tournament is in October, when the Women's World Cup play-offs are due to be held.
Fifa wants to create a commercial subsidiary to run its main events, including its World Cups, and external investors will be able to buy stakes in it.
It said it would "invite third parties to make minority, non-controlling investments" in a new subsidiary - Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE).
The plan needs to be passed by a vote of Fifa 211 members.
Infantino has written to them saying they will receive $40m equivalent to Uganda shillings billion 149,691,200,000 if they back his controversial proposal.
The decision was made at an emergency meeting called to discuss the proposal announced earlier this week by Fifa, which oversees world football.
Uefa, which governs European football, had already made its opposition clear by releasing two damning statements - and that strength of feeling has been reaffirmed.
"The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product," it said on Thursday.
"It is one of football's greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent. No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale."
Uefa's boycott would cover all Fifa competitions, including the men's and women's World Cups and Club World Cup, and be triggered if Fifa president Gianni Infantino's proposals are voted through by member associations.
The first time this stance will be tested at a senior tournament is in October, when the Women's World Cup play-offs are due to be held.
Fifa wants to create a commercial subsidiary to run its main events, including its World Cups, and external investors will be able to buy stakes in it.
It said it would "invite third parties to make minority, non-controlling investments" in a new subsidiary - Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE).
The plan needs to be passed by a vote of Fifa 211 members.
Infantino has written to them saying they will receive $40m equivalent to Uganda shillings billion 149,691,200,000 if they back his controversial proposal.
He has set a deadline of 19 September for federations to accept his plans if they want to access an initial $20m. The Women's Under-20 World Cup, which will take place in Poland, starts on 5th September.
If approval is granted for Infantino's plan, Fifa says Thrive Eternal is expected to lead the proposed investor group for FFE.
Thrive is an American venture capital firm founded by Joshua Kushner - the brother of US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared.
Fifa sources have told BBC Sport there has been no discussion over Infantino, or anyone else, becoming chief executive of FFE.
While Uefa only accounts for a quarter of Fifa's membership, it does include most of the world's most successful teams.
Six of the eight quarter-finalists - including winners Spain - at this summer's World Cup were European. In the 2022 and 2018 editions, the figures were five and six respectively.
Of the 23 World Cups to have taken place to date, 13 have been won by European countries.
If approval is granted for Infantino's plan, Fifa says Thrive Eternal is expected to lead the proposed investor group for FFE.
Thrive is an American venture capital firm founded by Joshua Kushner - the brother of US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared.
Fifa sources have told BBC Sport there has been no discussion over Infantino, or anyone else, becoming chief executive of FFE.
While Uefa only accounts for a quarter of Fifa's membership, it does include most of the world's most successful teams.
Six of the eight quarter-finalists - including winners Spain - at this summer's World Cup were European. In the 2022 and 2018 editions, the figures were five and six respectively.
Of the 23 World Cups to have taken place to date, 13 have been won by European countries.













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