Real Madrid have publicly commended UEFA, describing the governing body as having acted at "a decisive moment" for the sport, following FIFA's decision to scrap a proposal that would have allowed private equity firms to acquire stakes in a World Cup operating company.

The Spanish giants expressed their gratitude to UEFA for what they called the protection of football's integrity — a rare public endorsement from one of Europe's most powerful clubs directed at continental football's governing authority.

FIFA had been exploring a plan to bring in outside investment through the sale of equity in a commercial vehicle tied to the World Cup, a move that drew significant opposition from clubs and governing bodies across the sport. The proposal has now been shelved.

Real Madrid's statement signals the club's firm stance against the commercialisation of football's flagship international competition through private financial structures — a position the club has held consistently in debates over the sport's governance and financial future.