Europe's 55 Nations Refuse to Enter World Cup

FIFA insists little would change, since it would keep the final say over every tournament and is only offering part of a commercial venture. European officials do not accept that reassurance. Their argument is simple: an investor who owns a share expects a return, and after that decisions about the calendar and the competition formats would follow the money rather than the sport. The federations were also angry at how the plan appeared, with no consultation and a deadline of 19 September for all 211 members to reply. FIFA is advised by the bank J.P. Morgan, while Thrive Capital would head the group of buyers.

The numbers are now against FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Approval requires 106 associations; by the Daily Mail's count roughly 90 have already refused, so 16 more defections would put approval out of reach. Europe used this threat successfully before, forcing FIFA to abandon a two-yearly World Cup in 2021. Consequences may arrive within weeks: the women's Under-20 World Cup opens in Poland in September with six European sides, and Europe's qualifying play-offs for the next Women's World Cup are set for October.