European soccer leaders to boycott the World Cup in an unprecedented step

In an unprecedented step, European soccer associations said they would boycott the World Cup unless FIFA reverses a controversial deal to sell minority stakes to the marquee soccer tournament.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2803x1985+0+0/resize/2803x1985!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3a%2Fe7%2F6304924740779118c75408ddc22e%2Fgettyimages-2223587278.jpg' alt='FIFA President Gianni Infantino looks on prior to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 quarter final match between Fluminense FC and Al Hilal at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fl., on July 4, 2025.'/><p>In an unprecedented step, European soccer associations said they would boycott the World Cup unless FIFA reverses a controversial deal to sell minority stakes to the marquee soccer tournament.</p><p>(Image credit: Alex Grimm)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-5913664' />