UEFA set to drop FIFA boycott threat after investment row

UEFA is poised to withdraw its threat to boycott FIFA competitions after receiving assurances that a controversial investment plan will not be revived, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Representatives of UEFA’s 55 member associations are due to meet in Monaco on Thursday (August 27), where they could formally end the boycott threat.

The source, who was not authorised to speak publicly because the agenda has not been disclosed, said the decision follows assurances from FIFA over the future of the proposed investment initiative.

The move would clear the way for six European teams to take part in the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup, which begins in Poland on September 5. France, Spain, England, Italy, Portugal and hosts Poland are among the participating sides.

The dispute erupted last month after British newspaper The Times reported on a proposal backed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino to establish a new company, valued at around $20 billion, to manage FIFA’s commercial rights, including those for the World Cup.

Under the proposal, a group of investors would have taken a 20 percent stake in the new entity. The plan was reportedly linked to a New York-based fund led by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.

The proposal also envisaged allocating $20 million to each of FIFA’s 211 member associations. European football leaders strongly opposed the initiative, with the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF also expressing reservations.

Facing mounting opposition, Infantino withdrew the proposal just four days after it became public. UEFA subsequently sought assurances that the initiative, reportedly known as FIFA Forward Enterprise, would not return under another structure or name.

The investment dispute has also deepened tensions between UEFA and Infantino. On August 1, UEFA said it had lost confidence in the FIFA president, a stance widely seen as a political signal ahead of next March’s FIFA presidential election.

Infantino had previously been expected to face little or no opposition as he sought a fourth and final term that would keep him in office until 2031. The latest dispute has complicated that outlook.

FIFA welcomed the prospect of UEFA abandoning its boycott threat, saying in a statement that it remained confident in football’s ability to unite people even during difficult periods. The governing body also said it looked forward to welcoming all teams and players to the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.

After the tournament, UEFA’s next major FIFA competition will be the European playoff stage of the 2027 Women’s World Cup qualifiers, scheduled for October 9-13.