FIFA, the organization that runs world soccer, wants to create a new company to manage its biggest events — including the World Cup — and let outside investors buy a small share of that company. But two of soccer's largest regional groups are banding together to stop it.

The new company would be called FIFA Forward Enterprise. FIFA says it would stay in control by keeping the majority share, while outside investors could buy smaller, non-controlling stakes. FIFA President Gianni Infantino needs 106 of FIFA's 211 member countries to vote yes for the plan to pass.

The opposition comes from two regional groups: UEFA, which runs European soccer and has 55 member countries, and Concacaf, which covers North and Central America and the Caribbean with 41 members. UEFA's countries voted to boycott future World Cups if the plan goes forward. Concacaf's countries also rejected the idea of selling stakes in FIFA's competitions. Together, they have 96 votes — more than the 105 needed to block the plan if all members vote along regional lines.

FIFA responded bluntly: "Nobody is selling football." The organization said its efforts to consult with member countries had been disrupted by what it called incorrect media reports, and said it would keep consulting so that every country can vote based on accurate information.

The numbers are tough for Infantino. He needs 106 yes votes to pass the plan. With 96 countries already opposed, FIFA would need to win 106 of the remaining 115 countries — about 92 percent. That leaves almost no room for any country in the other regions (Asia, Africa, South America, and Oceania) to vote no.

The bigger picture is a long-standing debate in soccer: should private money be allowed into the sport's most important competitions? FIFA says this is about growth and investment. UEFA and Concacaf say it is a step toward privatizing the World Cup and other top tournaments. If the boycott actually happens, it is hard to see how a World Cup works without teams from Europe and the Americas.

FIFA's argument that bad media coverage derailed its consultation suggests the organization thinks some opponents are reacting to a distorted version of the plan rather than the real thing. Whether more talks can change any minds in UEFA and Concacaf — or whether their positions are locked in — is the key question as the vote gets closer.

The decision facing each country comes down to a trade-off: the possible financial benefits of private investment versus the risk of a split where nearly half of FIFA's members refuse to play in its biggest events. Those 96 opposing votes carry weight beyond the count, since European and North American countries have historically provided a large share of World Cup teams, fans, and revenue.

FIFA has not set a date for the vote. Its commitment to a consultation period first means the timeline is still open, and the strength of the opposition suggests those talks will matter a great deal in determining whether the plan goes to a vote as-is or gets changed.