UEFA's 55 member nations have agreed to boycott the World Cup if FIFA moves forward with plans to sell stakes in the tournament to private investors.

The decision was reached during an emergency virtual meeting chaired by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, following widespread opposition to the proposal across European football.

UEFA said the World Cup should remain a sporting competition rather than become an investment product, arguing that its value has been built over generations by players, teams and supporters worldwide.

UEFA also criticised FIFA's handling of the proposal, claiming it was developed without sufficient consultation with football's stakeholders. The European body said it would oppose any move that could transfer ownership interests in the World Cup or other FIFA competitions to private investors.

However, the Confederation of African Football has asked its member associations to review FIFA's proposed plan to create a commercial subsidiary for managing major competitions, including the World Cup and Club World Cup. CAF President, Patrice Motsepe, is expected to lead a meeting of the organisation's executive committee next week to assess the FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative.