Uefa's threat to boycott Fifa competitions could have huge implications for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil.

European nations have been among the leading forces in women's football, with England, Spain, France and Germany all among the world's strongest teams, meaning a boycott would leave huge gaps in terms of quality and commercial value.

FIFA says the proposals would increase funding for football development, but questions remain over how much would reach the women's game.

Image source, Getty Images

The boycott would cover all Fifa competitions, including the men's and women's World Cups and Club World Cup, and be triggered if Fifa president Gianni Infantino's proposals are voted through by member associations.

The first time this stance will be tested at a senior tournament is October, when the Women's World Cup play-offs are due to be held.

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Stone
BBC Sport chief football news reporter

One senior source within the English game told BBC Sport that the threat posed by Fifa's plan is one of the biggest the game has faced and is on a par with the proposed European Super League, which created such controversy in 2021 and was scrapped within 48 hours.

It seems unlikely that Fifa will back down in the same manner over this.

This latest escalation extends a difficult relationship between Fifa and Uefa, which responded angrily to attempts to host the World Cup every two years when the idea was floated by former Arsenal manager and Fifa's current chief of global football development Arsene Wenger in 2021.

Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin boycotted the World Cup final this month in protest over a number of controversial moves, including US President Donald Trump stepping in to help turn USA forward Folarin Balogun's one-match ban into a suspended ban, allowing him to play in the last-16 encounter with Belgium.

So what is this all about?

Fifa president Gianni Infantino had written to all 211 member associations offering $40m (£30m) if they backed his plan to sell stakes in its major competitions.

The proposals which Fifa says could raise $10bn (£7.5bn) have faced criticism from Uefa and other stakeholders, with Infantino defending them as a "golden opportunity" to develop the game globally.

Yesterday, a Football Association spokesperson said: "We were completely unaware of this proposal and have no substantive details, including what the proposition actually is and what conditions are attached.

"Based on the limited information, we are deeply concerned about the lack of process and governance to get to this point, and the apparent substance and principles involved.

"When the proposal is shared in the full and transparent way now promised by Fifa, we will make our views clear and comment further."

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Stone
BBC Sport chief football news reporter

Uefa's 55 member associations have voted to boycott World Cups if Fifa proceeds with its plan to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors.

The decision was made at an emergency meeting called to discuss the proposals announced by Fifa - world football's governing body - on Tuesday.

Uefa, which governs European football, had made its opposition clear by releasing two damning statements about the plans - and that strength of feeling has now been reaffirmed.

The boycott would cover all Fifa competitions, including the men's and women's World Cups and Club World Cup, and be triggered if Fifa president Gianni Infantino's proposals are voted through by member associations.

The first time this stance will be tested is October, when the Women's World Cup play-offs are due to be held.

In a statement released after the meeting, Uefa said it and its 55 member associations "stand as one".

"We unanimously and unequivocally reject Fifa's proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other Fifa competitions to private investors," it said.

"The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football's greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent. No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale."

Fifa wants to create a commercial subsidiary to run its main events, including the World Cup, and external investors will be able to buy stakes in it.

Infantino wrote to all 211 Fifa member associations saying they would receive $40m (£30m) if they backed his controversial plan to sell off stakes in its major competitions.

The Swiss set a deadline of 19 September for football federations to accept his plans if they wanted to access an initial $20m (£15m).

In response on Wednesday, Uefa accused Fifa of using football "to enrich themselves and their friends".

Image source, Getty Images

As always, we want to hear your thoughts.

Do you agree with the Uefa nations' decision to boycott future Fifa competitions?

Will this be the beginning of the end of Gianni Infantino's reign as Fifa president?

Send in your thoughts by clicking on the 'Get Involved' panel at the side of the page.

It was only 11 days ago that Spain were celebrating their World Cup triumph in the United States.

But the reigning world champions are one of 55 UEFA nations that have agreed to boycott future tournaments after FIFA announced its proposals to sell stakes to private investors.

It feels like a landmark day for football. European nations clearly feel as though FIFA president Gianni Infantino has crossed a line.

Image source, Getty Images

We have some major breaking news late this afternoon.

All 55 Uefa countries have voted to support a World Cup boycott in protest against Fifa proposed deal to sell stakes to private investors, a source has told BBC Sport.

We will continue to bring you the latest on this breaking story as we get it.