European soccer nations back boycott of FIFA competitions over World Cup stake plan

European soccer federations have agreed to boycott FIFA competitions in protest of a plan by FIFA president Gianni Infantino to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity investors. UEFA said its 55 member associations would not take part in FIFA events unless the proposal is fully withdrawn and FIFA gives binding assurances that its competitions will not be opened to private ownership. The dispute centers on Infantino's proposal to create a new commercial unit, with outside investors taking a stake and member associations receiving larger funding payments. UEFA argued that the World Cup should not be sold and said the move would put commercial pressure on football's biggest tournaments. The opposition widened later Thursday when CONCACAF, which represents 41 national associations across North America, Central America and the Caribbean, also rejected the plan. Its members raised concerns about the short deadline, the lack of formal review, and the need for outside investment after what they described as FIFA's most profitable World Cup in history.