Business & Finance

UEFA set to drop FIFA boycott threat after receiving assurances over commercial plan

European soccer's governing body is expected to confirm that six European teams will participate in the upcoming U20 Women's World Cup in Poland.

Updated Aug 26, 2026 · 16:47 UTC3 reports

The short version

UEFA is expected to formally withdraw its threat to boycott FIFA events after receiving guarantees that FIFA will not attempt to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors.
The resolution allows six European nations—England, France, Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Spain—to compete in the FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup beginning September 5.
Despite dropping the immediate boycott, European soccer leaders plan to continue pushing for changes to FIFA's governance ahead of its presidential election in March.

UEFA member federations meeting Thursday in Monaco are expected to formally lift the boycott threat against FIFA competitions.[Associated Press · BBC News · Deutsche Welle]
The dispute was triggered by FIFA President Gianni Infantino's proposal to create a $20 billion commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, partially owned by private investors.[Associated Press · Deutsche Welle]
Withdrawing the boycott clears six European nations—England, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and host Poland—to play in the FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup starting September 5.[Associated Press · BBC News · Deutsche Welle]
According to reporting by The Times, UEFA has sent formal notice that it is considering legal action, arbitration, or regulatory complaints regarding the commercial plan.[Deutsche Welle]
FIFA has set a November 18 deadline for candidates to enter its presidential election scheduled for March in Rabat, Morocco.[Associated Press · BBC News]

Whether a candidate will emerge to challenge Gianni Infantino in the upcoming FIFA presidential election, as UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has ruled himself out and no alternative candidates have stepped forward.[BBC News · Deutsche Welle]