UEFA boycott of FIFA collapses as European teams confirm U20 Women's World Cup participation

Hupu, September 3rd — One month after the "World Cup privatization" controversy erupted, FIFA President Gianni Infantino remains firmly in power, according to a report by Spain's El País. UEFA's previously called-for comprehensive boycott has failed to take effect, and European women's national teams will still participate in the upcoming U20 Women's World Cup as scheduled.

This Saturday (September 5th), the U20 Women's World Cup will kick off in Poland. The tournament serves not only as a stage for young players but also as a barometer of the power struggle between UEFA and FIFA. Previously, UEFA — dissatisfied with FIFA's "privatization plan" — announced on July 30th that it would boycott all FIFA events. However, as the tournament approaches, that boycott declaration has become meaningless.

Background of the Controversy

The controversy began with a report by the British The Times, which claimed that FIFA planned to establish an independent subsidiary called "FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE)" to handle the commercial development of the men's and women's World Cups. FIFA intended to sell 20% of the company's shares to private capital. More controversially, it was rumored that the private capital involved was linked to the brother of former U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law.

The news sparked outrage in European football. UEFA not only condemned the move as undermining the purity of the sport — forcing FIFA to withdraw the proposal before a vote — but even publicly hinted that Infantino should resign.

The Collapse of the Boycott: Europe Is Not a United Front

Despite UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin's tough stance, cracks within Europe quickly emerged.

• This Saturday, England — a leading opponent of Infantino — will face Canada in Poland as planned.
• European football powerhouses such as Spain, Italy, Portugal, and France will all participate.

The failure of the European boycott reflects the complex reality of world football politics. An insider commented: "If you launch a coup and fail to seize power that night, failure is inevitable." The core reason Čeferin failed to shake Infantino was his inability to secure the 106 key votes needed to remove the president.

Driven by Interests: The Temptation of €40 Million

The boycott's failure within Europe was largely due to money.

According to the withdrawn FIFA plan, if privatization succeeded, FIFA's 211 member associations could receive approximately €40 million annually between 2027 and 2031. For football powerhouses like Spain, France, and Italy, they at least wanted to study the proposal rather than outright reject it.

Additionally, humanitarian and ethical considerations played a role. UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy publicly stated: "Players should not become victims of political struggles." National football associations generally believed that young female players should not be denied the opportunity to participate in a World Cup — a career-changing event — due to personal conflicts among top officials.

Global Game: Infantino's Defense

On the international stage, Čeferin's "anti-Infantino" alliance also appeared fragile.

• Although UEFA had joined forces with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF to challenge Infantino, it quickly faced backlash.
• Mexico, a key member of CONCACAF, explicitly supported Infantino.
• The Qatar Football Association also wrote to the AFC, questioning its decision to join the opposition without consulting member associations.
• CONMEBOL, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and the Oceania Football Confederation (excluding New Zealand) all sided with Infantino. While they warned FIFA against making such major moves without communication, they did not support removing the president.

Next Steps

After the failed "coup," UEFA is considering filing a criminal complaint in Zurich to hold FIFA legally accountable for irregularities in the "privatization project."

However, legal proceedings often drag on. Industry insiders believe that by the time a court ruling is made, both Infantino and Čeferin may have already completed their terms. For now, Infantino has temporarily secured his victory in this power game, while UEFA's first frontal assault has ended in failure.

Source: Spain's El País