UEFA and European federations oppose FIFA's plan to sell World Cup stake

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin and European football governing bodies have intensified their opposition to FIFA’s proposal to sell a minority stake in a new World Cup commercial venture to private investors.

The plan, led by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, aims to raise over $4 billion by transferring 20 to 30 percent of the tournament's commercial rights to a separate company. European administrators expressed strong disapproval, emphasizing that "none of us owns football."

Following the announcement, European federations held urgent consultations to address the situation, with reports indicating that potential boycott measures are under discussion. National associations, including the Norwegian Football Federation, stated they were caught unprepared by the initiative, underscoring growing friction between European leaders and FIFA over the commercial governance of international competitions.

Sources: Aftenposten, Der Standard, Le Figaro, NV, Tagesschau