Sources: UEFA holding Thursday talks on FIFA plan

UEFA is set to convene an emergency meeting of its 55 member associations on Thursday, as the European governing body begins to coalesce around a unified response to FIFA's surprise proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors. Sources close to the situation have revealed that the meeting, which is expected to be attended by UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and other senior officials, will provide a platform for member associations to discuss and debate the implications of FIFA's plan.

The potential sale of a stake in the World Cup has sent shockwaves throughout the football world, with many expressing concerns over the potential impact on the sport's integrity and the long-term financial implications for member associations. As a result, UEFA is understood to be considering a range of options, including a potential boycott of the World Cup, as it seeks to protect the interests of its member associations and the sport as a whole.

FIFA's proposal, which is believed to have been driven by a desire to raise much-needed funding for the governing body, has been met with widespread skepticism and criticism from many quarters. UEFA, in particular, has been vocal in its opposition to the plan, with Ceferin describing it as "unacceptable" and warning that it could have far-reaching consequences for the sport. The emergency meeting on Thursday is expected to provide a crucial opportunity for UEFA to galvanize its member associations behind a unified response to FIFA's proposal.

The outcome of UEFA's emergency meeting will be closely watched by football fans and stakeholders around the world, as the governing body seeks to navigate a complex and potentially fraught situation. With the 2026 World Cup just two years away, the implications of FIFA's proposal will be felt for years to come, and UEFA's response will play a critical role in determining the future direction of the sport.