UEFA set to abandon FIFA tournament boycott threat

UEFA is expected to withdraw its threat to boycott FIFA competitions after receiving assurances that FIFA will not again pursue plans to allow private investors to acquire stakes in the World Cup, according to reports.

The issue is expected to be discussed at UEFA’s executive committee meeting in Monaco on Thursday.

UEFA had previously warned that its boycott would remain in place unless FIFA provided binding guarantees against similar proposals in the future. The dispute followed the collapse of FIFA Forward Enterprises, a plan that faced strong opposition from European football authorities.

If UEFA lifts the boycott threat, the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland next month is expected to go ahead as scheduled, with England, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and hosts Poland among the European participants.

However, the move would not necessarily signal an end to the wider dispute between UEFA and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin has continued to push for significant changes at FIFA and has indicated that Infantino could face a challenge to his position at the organisation’s next presidential election.

One source close to the discussions described the decision as not a defeat for UEFA, arguing that the priority is avoiding the impact of a boycott on young players competing at an important international tournament.

The dispute has also divided former footballers. Some former internationals have publicly called for changes at FIFA, while other FIFA Legends have expressed support for Infantino and praised the governing body’s work over the past decade.

For now, UEFA appears ready to step back from a tournament boycott while continuing its wider campaign for changes within FIFA.