European soccer governing body UEFA is poised to formally lift its threat to boycott FIFA competitions after receiving binding assurances that FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s controversial World Cup privatization plan will not be revived.
The resolution comes as executives from UEFA’s 55 member associations gather in Monaco ahead of the Champions League draw. According to reports from The Associated Press, FIFA provided written guarantees confirming it will never reintroduce equivalent plans to sell commercial stakes in international tournaments to private investors.
The fallout began last month when details leaked regarding "FIFA Forward Enterprise," a proposed $20 billion commercial subsidiary designed to sell a 20% stake in World Cup commercial rights to private investors. UEFA harshly condemned the proposal, declaring in an official statement that "the soul and governance of football are not assets to trade – especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially".
Infantino dropped the proposal within four days following overwhelming pushback from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and CONCACAF. However, UEFA maintained its boycott stance until receiving binding guarantees that similar attempts would never return.
Lifting the boycott clears six European teams—France, England, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and hosts Poland—to freely compete in the upcoming FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup starting September 5.
Despite the agreement, Infantino faces severe political friction ahead of FIFA’s presidential election next March in Rabat, Morocco. Italy’s football federation (FIGC) recently withdrew its endorsement of Infantino, stating the move intended to "express the FIGC's position regarding recent initiatives concerning governance of international competitions".
