UEFA and its 55 member associations have unanimously rejected FIFA's proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors.

UEFA stated that the World Cup is a sporting legacy, not an investment product, and should never be surrendered to private investors. They criticized FIFA for conceiving the proposal in secret without meaningful consultation, calling it a profound failure of leadership and an abdication of FIFA's duty as custodian of world football.

UEFA declared that no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition if these proposals remain active, unless abandoned entirely with binding assurances against future private ownership. UEFA insists that football's future cannot be dictated by those solely focused on maximizing financial return, and that the interests of national associations, leagues, clubs, players, and supporters must not be subordinate to investor returns. This is a moment where institutions are judged by their refusal to compromise on vital principles.