European nations to boycott World Cup in protest at controversial sell-off

['Tom Ward', 'Max Melzer', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', 'Sourceurl Https', 'Inews.Co.Uk Wp-Content Plugins Co-Authors-Plus Build Blocks Block-Coauthors Style-Index.Css', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img'] The i Paper 2026-07-30 16:34:34

World football’s governing body said FFE would remain owned and controlled by itself, but that minority stakes would be sold to external parties. We unanimously and unequivocally reject Fifa’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other Fifa competitions to private investors. “The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. The World Cup is not for sale.” This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of Fifa’s duty as the custodian of world football.