FIFA has refused to abandon its plans to sell off stakes in a new $20 billion commercial vehicle, despite all 55 UEFA member nations voting to boycott future World Cups if the proposal moves forward.

The 55 European nations within UEFA, including England's Football Association, voted on Wednesday to support a boycott of all FIFA tournaments in protest at the divisive proposals. They called for an immediate halt to the consultation process launched by FIFA president Gianni Infantino this week, which could lead to a vote as early as September at the FIFA Congress, where each of FIFA's 211 member associations holds a single vote.

In a statement released overnight, FIFA said: "We have heard the feedback provided by the respective confederations in relation to the proposed establishment of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) and would like to address the issues that have surfaced since the initial media reporting on Tuesday."

"We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation," the statement continued. "Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports. We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each MA [member association] has the ability to express its vote based on facts."

FIFA's stance risks further fracturing its relationship with UEFA, which possesses the influence and financial weight to derail the proposed sell-off. The plan would involve selling stakes to investors including members of Infantino ally President Trump's extended family, and FIFA says it would raise $4.2 billion. The confrontation comes at a commercially sensitive moment for FIFA, which is preparing for the expanded 48-team, 104-match 2026 World Cup across the United States, Canada, and Mexico — the largest edition in the tournament's history and a cornerstone of FIFA's projected $11 billion revenue cycle through 2026.

Why UEFA's Position Could Derail the FIFA Plan

Europe has produced five of the last six World Cup winners, dominates the Club World Cup, and represents the single largest media market for FIFA broadcast rights. Without UEFA teams participating, FIFA's commercial vehicle would be significantly less attractive to investors.

FIFA's latest statement rejected claims that the plan amounts to "selling football."

"FFE has been proposed solely to ensure that all FIFA Member Associations have the opportunity to take meaningful ownership of the commercial opportunity of football in their respective countries, and that this does not come at the cost of either the spirit or the governance of FIFA or football itself," the organization said.

"Nobody is selling football. This is not something FIFA would ever entertain."

UEFA has previously played a pivotal role in defeating other radical FIFA-backed initiatives, including biennial World Cups and a proposed $25 billion investment led by SoftBank.

Following its emergency vote on Wednesday, UEFA declared: "Europe's position is clear. We will never lend this model our legitimacy. No one has the moral authority to sell what they merely hold in trust for the next generation."