UEFA officially stated that if Infantino's plan proceeds, all member associations will boycott the World Cup.

On July 30, Beijing time, UEFA issued a press release to the media announcing that if Gianni Infantino proceeds with his plan to sell his World Cup shares, all 55 of its member associations will boycott the World Cup.

UEFA official announcement:

We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA's proposal to transfer ownership of the World Cup and other FIFA events to private investors. The World Cup should never be treated as an investment product. It is one of the greatest sporting legacies of football, built up by generations of players, national teams, and fans from all continents. No part of the World Cup should be handed over to private capital. The World Cup is not for sale.

This proposal, which has a profound impact on football, was planned in secret throughout and almost passed without any substantive consultation with the parties responsible for football governance. This move is not only irresponsible but also completely illegitimate. It is not only a major dereliction of duty at the leadership level but also a complete betrayal of FIFA's responsibilities as the world's trustee of football.

FIFA has now issued an ultimatum to football associations worldwide: either accept the irreversible control of top-tier football by capital, or bear the consequences. This is by no means a so-called "democratic decision," but rather governance through coercion, a coercive and authoritarian operation, completely unworthy of being made by an organization that governs global football.

Our objections go far beyond just procedural issues.

Once external capital acquires ownership of FIFA events, the sport will be completely transformed. Commercial returns will become a permanent hard and fast rule, and investors' profit expectations will translate into daily pressure. From that moment on, all decisions regarding international competition schedules, rules, and the future direction of football will no longer be based on the best interests of football itself, but rather on the core interests of shareholders.

This model is absolutely unsuitable for world football. The future of football cannot be dictated by the will of capitalists whose primary goal is profit maximization; the core interests of national football associations, leagues, clubs, players, and fans must never be sacrificed for the profit demands of investors. Football cannot mortgage its long-term future for short-term economic gains.

Our position is very clear: we will never legitimize this model. No one has the moral right to sell football assets that are merely entrusted to future generations.

Following today's discussions, UEFA has decided that, unless the aforementioned privatization proposal is completely repealed and FIFA provides a binding commitment guaranteeing that it will never again open up tournament management and ownership to private capital, all UEFA member national teams will no longer participate in any FIFA-organized competitions. Please understand: UEFA and all its member associations will resolutely oppose this plan.

Judging an organization sometimes isn't about what it's willing to compromise on, but about what it resolutely refuses to yield. Now is precisely such a crucial moment. Some things are too weighty to be sold. The FIFA World Cup belongs to football itself, and will always belong to football. As long as European football retains its voice, the World Cup will never be traded.