European football's 55 member associations have voted to boycott all World Cups and other Fifa competitions if the sport's governing body proceeds with a plan to sell stakes in its events to private investors. The decision was made at an emergency meeting called to discuss a proposal announced earlier this week by Fifa, which oversees world football.

Uefa, which governs European football, had previously made its opposition clear through two critical statements, and this strong stance was reaffirmed by the member associations. The organization stated that the World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product, emphasizing its status as a significant sporting legacy built over generations by players, national teams, and supporters globally.

Uefa's proposed boycott would encompass all Fifa competitions, including the men's and women's World Cups and the Club World Cup. This action would be triggered if Fifa president Gianni Infantino's proposals are approved by Fifa's member associations. The first potential test of this boycott at a senior tournament would be the Women's World Cup play-offs scheduled for October.

The implications of a widespread boycott by European nations, representing a significant bloc within Fifa, could severely impact the financial viability and global reach of Fifa's flagship tournaments. Such a move would signal a deep division within the sport's leadership regarding its commercial future.

Sources indicated that the atmosphere at Uefa's meeting was "venomous," reflecting the strong opposition to Infantino's proposals. Among those present were FA chairwoman Debbie Hewitt and chief executive Mark Bullingham, neither of whom had prior knowledge of Infantino's discussions regarding the investment plan, despite Hewitt's position as a Fifa vice-president.

Adding to the growing opposition, Concacaf, which governs football in North and Central America and recently hosted the men's World Cup, also met on Thursday. Its 41 member associations have rejected Infantino's proposal, with sources suggesting a decline in faith in the Fifa president among these nations.

Fifa's plan involves creating a commercial subsidiary, Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE), to manage its main events, allowing external investors to acquire minority, non-controlling stakes. The proposal requires the support of at least 106 of Fifa's 211 member associations to pass. Uefa and Concacaf members alone account for 96 associations likely to vote against the plan.

Infantino has reportedly offered Fifa members $40 million (£30 million) each if they back the controversial proposal, a move that has drawn further criticism and raised questions about the motivations behind the plan and its potential impact on the integrity of the sport.