In a statement that pulled no punches, Europe presented a united front to FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, whose proposal this week blindsided regional confederations and caused uproar just weeks after the World Cup staged in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Six of the top 10 ranked teams in both men's and women's fotball are from Europe, including world champion Spain.

CONCACAF and its 41 member associations also rejected FIFA's plan during a meeting on Thursday, while the Asian Football Confederation issued a scathing letter to the continent's 47 member associations and warned the proposal would never succeed without the support of all six regional blocs.

UEFA's stance raised the stakes dramatically, with immediate implications for the 2027 women's World Cup due to be hosted in Brazil. Spain and Portugal are co-hosts of the 2030 men's World Cup along with Morocco.

Members of UEFA voted 55-0 in favour of the boycott at an emergency meeting, a soccer source told Reuters.

"We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors," UEFA said in a statement.

"No UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership."

UEFA said the World Cup was not for sale and could not be treated as an investment product or surrendered to private investors.

Infantino's plan would create a $20 billion subsidiary to run the World Cup and its other events, while offering minority stakes to private investors.

He has offered FIFA's 211 member associations $40 million each if they agree to the proposal by 19 September as part of a $10 billion package to become available from 1 January, 2027.

If rejected, the package would revert to $2.7 billion previously offered, around $10 million per member association.

"This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA’s duty as the custodian of world football," UEFA said of a proposal which has triggered a major governance crisis.

"The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever. Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become a daily pressure."

UEFA, whose elite club competitions generated €4.4 billion ($5 billion) in the 2024-2025 season alone, and FIFA have long waged a battle for power and control in a sport that has become a mighty money machine.

Infantino, who is up for reelection as head of FIFA next year, has cast the move as pushing global "democratisation" by broadening access to its financial largesse.

Others have taken a different view.

"Football belongs to the fans, not billionaire investors. Enough is enough. It's time to take a stand to protect our game," said Britain's culture minister Lisa Nandy after the UEFA statement.

AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa said his body was not consulted by FIFA at any level before the public announcement. That, and the lack of any detailed governance, financial or legal analysis of the proposal, was "totally unacceptable", he added.

"FIFA’s unilateral actions appear to undermine the very foundations of continental football, which are based on solidarity, cooperation and transparency," added the Bahraini.

"Such an initiative will not succeed without the support of all the confederations, which is not the case now."

CONCACAF, the regional bloc for North America, Central America and the Caribbean, also held a meeting on Friday where the presidents of its member associations expressed "deep concerns" about what they called a lack of due process surrounding the proposal, a short deadline and the absence of any review or approval by relevant FIFA governance bodies.

"The discussion reinforced the need for greater transparency and proper governance," CONCACAF said in a statement. "For these reasons, CONCACAF and its 41 Member Associations have: Rejected the proposal."

The African confederation's executive committee meets next week to evaluate the proposal, while the Oceania confederation, the smallest regional bloc with 11 full member nations, said it would discuss the proposal at a meeting next month.

South American governing body CONMEBOL, which has yet to comment publicly, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Players' bodies have also expressed opposition to FIFA's plan, with FIFPRO, the global players' union, warning the proposal would irreversibly reshape the incentives underpinning the tournaments in which players work and build careers.

The following are quotes and reactions:

ENGLISH FA STATEMENT

“We stand shoulder to shoulder with our European colleagues and fully support the collective view. We oppose FIFA’s plans - the FIFA World Cup belongs to football and always will.”

SCOTTISH FA BOARD STATEMENT

"The Scottish FA Board agrees unequivocally with the concerns raised by all members over the manner in which these proposals have been issued, and deadline set, without a full consultation process or consideration to good governance."

ALEXANDER WEHRLE, CHAIRMAN OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD OF THE GERMAN FA'S ECONOMIC AND DIGITAL SUBSIDIARY, VfB STUTTGART CEO

"A line has once again been crossed and that he (FIFA President Gianni Infantino) wants to sell off football.

"It really makes me wonder: did Gianni Infantino ever play professional football? I believe it was the fifth division in Switzerland.

"And has he ever actually stood in the supporters' section? Does he really know what football means — football as a game, as a unifying force? I have serious doubts about that.

"FIFA’s actual purpose is to oversee international regulations and organise tournaments.

"I don't believe an association's overriding principle should be profit maximisation. But something has gone off track here, and it has to stop."

SWEDISH FA STATEMENT

"The SvFF shares UEFA’s views on both the process and the underlying issue.

"A proposal with such far-reaching consequences for international football must be handled through an open, transparent and well-anchored process."

NORWEGIAN FA CHIEF LISE KLAVENESS

"We cannot accept a process where a project that changes the very core of our shared model is developed in secret, outside the elected bodies, and presented as a done deal without any form of consultation.

"There has been no transparency, involvement, or debate. The message from Norway and UEFA is clear: if this project continues, we will withdraw from FIFA competitions."

DANISH FA CHAIRMAN JESPER MOELLER

"It is out of the question to accede to an agreement of this nature, where we invite private investors into the heart of FIFA. We will therefore support all necessary measures to stop this project."

BRITISH CULTURE SECRETARY LISA NANDY

“This (UEFA boycott) is a principled decision that we strongly support. Football belongs to the fans, not billionaire investors. Enough is enough. It’s time to take a stand to protect our game.”

BRITISH POLITICIAN NIGEL FARAGE

"Football is for the people. UEFA are right to take a stand and Gianni Infantino must resign."

CONCACAF

"Membership expressed deep concerns about the lack of due process surrounding the proposal, the artificially short deadline imposed, and the absence of any review or approval by the relevant FIFA governance bodies."

U.S. SOCCER

"U.S. Soccer stands with Concacaf and its members."

CANADA SOCCER

"Canada Soccer stands with Concacaf and its members on today’s collective decision."

PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLERS AUSTRALIA

"At a time when football desperately requires greater transparency, accountability and good governance, proposals of this significance raise questions about who the game is run by and in whose interests."