UEFA set to lift boycott threat after FIFA guarantees no repeat of World Cup sale plan

UEFA is prepared to withdraw its threatened boycott of FIFA competitions after receiving binding private assurances from FIFA that it will not repeat Gianni Infantino’s proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup, the organisation said on 26 August 2026. Those guarantees are expected to clear the way for European teams to take part in the upcoming under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland and in subsequent tournaments.

The boycott threat followed revelation of Infantino’s Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, which UEFA criticised and said it would not accept; UEFA reinforced that stance even after FIFA withdrew the plan, insisting the condition that "such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again" had not been met. FIFA confirmed it abandoned FFE four days after the proposal became public but initially did not provide a pledge against any repeat; that pledge has now been supplied in private correspondence. Despite public exchanges, UEFA and FIFA have held private discussions for several weeks to agree the terms under which UEFA would remove its boycott threat.

If the boycott is formally dropped, England — which named its under-20 squad last week — will be able to travel to Poland for its opening match against Canada on 5 September. France and Spain had also already listed travelling parties in expectation that UEFA would lift the threat, and Portugal, Italy and the unnamed host nation are other European teams due to compete. UEFA has not yet publicly announced a decision to end the boycott.

The issue is listed among items that may be raised at UEFA’s executive committee and federation chiefs meeting in Monte Carlo on Thursday, where 55 heads of member associations will convene before the Champions League draw. UEFA’s position that Infantino should be replaced remains unchanged, and further steps regarding UEFA’s stance towards FIFA leadership are set to be discussed at that meeting. The potential removal of the boycott will therefore be considered alongside wider questions about UEFA’s relationship with FIFA.

UEFA and FIFA had traded public criticism over FFE, but sources said private reassurances were decisive in moving discussions toward a resolution. FIFA’s private correspondence supplying the binding assurance differs from the earlier public statement that simply confirmed the abandonment of FFE without a non-repetition pledge. The private guarantee specifically underpins the likely clearance of European sides for forthcoming FIFA competitions.

There has been particular relief that younger players are unlikely to be caught up in the dispute over the sport’s governance, with the under-20 tournament cited as an immediate beneficiary of the assurances. While UEFA has yet to make a public announcement, national teams that had taken preparatory steps for Poland are positioned to proceed if the executive committee records agreement.

UEFA’s executive committee and the 55 federation chiefs will meet in Monte Carlo on Thursday ahead of the Champions League draw, and the boycott, UEFA’s demand for Infantino’s replacement, and any further actions on UEFA’s stance towards FIFA leadership will be on the agenda.