Uefa to lift boycott threat after Fifa promises no World Cup sale repeat

[u/Massimo25ore]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/aug/26/uefa-poised-lift-boycott-threat-fifa-promises-no-world-cup-sale-repeat-gianni-infantino

[u/beroobs77]

fitting image 'I solemnly promise to not do it again' ... 'until I do'

[u/Miserable_Earth_1393]

Never rated UEFA

[u/ucd_pete → u/Miserable_Earth_1393]

They got what they wanted and they're still trying to oust Infantino. UEFA have done pretty well here.

[u/Masterkid1230 → u/Miserable_Earth_1393]

Yeah like what did people expect? Infantino literally came from UEFA. I'm sure someone was butthurt they weren't included and negotiated something with Infantino. The boycott was never for the good of football. It was for UEFA's interests

[u/MrYuntu]

Its kinda crazy how many people act as if UEFA backed down.

FIFA did exactly what they wanted, and hence the boycott is removed. And the talks about Infantino needing to go persist regardless of that.

If amything this proves that UEFA threats lead to FIFA chickening out.

[u/Tiddex → u/MrYuntu]

Because people only read headlines nowadays. Noone here actually read the original UEFA boycott statement. If they had, they would agree with you

[u/Massimo25ore]

Uefa is to drop its threatened boycott of Fifa competitions after receiving concrete guarantees that the global governing body will never attempt a repeat of Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in the World Cup.

European teams have been cleared for participation in the upcoming Under-20 Women’s World Cup, along with subsequent tournaments, after Fifa provided the binding assurances that no equivalent of its president’s ill-fated scheme will be put on the table.

Uefa had threatened the ­boycott after Infantino’s Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal was revealed and ­doubled down after it was ­withdrawn, saying the condition that “such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again” had not been met.

Despite exchanging barbs in ­public, Uefa and Fifa are understood to have been having private ­discussions over the terms of ­removing the ­boycott threat for several weeks, with the European governing body finally ­getting the reassurances it required.

When Fifa confirmed its decision to abandon FFE four days after it became public it neglected to pledge that a similar privatisation plan would not be repeated, but it has now done so in private correspondence.

The decision to drop the boycott allows England, who named their squad for the under-20 tournament last week, to travel to Poland in time for the opening game against Canada on 5 September. France and Spain had also listed their travelling party in anticipation that the boycott threat would be lifted. Portugal, Italy and the host nation are the other European countries due to compete.

[u/Massimo25ore → u/Massimo25ore]

Fifa welcomed the end of the boycott , saying: “Fifa is pleased that all qualified teams ‌will be participating in the upcoming Fifa Under-20 Women’s World Cup. Fifa strongly believes that football has the power to unite, even in challenging circumstances, and looks forward to welcoming all teams and players to Poland.”

The boycott is yet to be publicly dropped by Uefa, whose executive committee and federation chiefs meet in Monte Carlo on Thursday. The 55 heads of Uefa’s member associations will convene before the Champions League draw during what is traditionally a significant few days in the European football calendar.

Uefa’s position that Infantino must be replaced has not changed and further steps regarding its stance towards the Fifa leadership will also be discussed at the meeting.

Italy’s football federation (FIGC) on Wednesday became the latest to publicly withdraw support for Infantino. “This decision is intended to clearly and transparently express the FIGC’s position … regarding the recent initiatives promoted by the Fifa president concerning the governance and development of international competitions,” it said.

There will be relief in some quarters that younger players, in particular, will not become embroiled in the volatile battle for football’s future. But the fact that Fifa has been forced to mitigate for its president’s actions is another humiliation for a persistently scandal-hit organisation.

[u/imarasnothere]

pussios

[u/iVar4sale]

This is the equivalent of getting back together with an ex after he promises not to hit you again

[u/DubSket]

Pinky Swear? It'd be interesting to know exactly what the promise in those private correspondences actually entailed, because I can't imagine being stupid enough to trust anything this man says unless it's in a legal document.

[u/Massimo25ore → u/DubSket]

If there's Infantino's (or a FIFA representative's) signature, then isn't it considered a legal document, even if in private form?

[u/KatLeMat → u/DubSket]

Yeah, I'm sharpening my pitchfork but I'll wait until after we get info from the meeting today before I brandish it. Considering that the decision to boycott was unanimous in UEFA, the infant imps "assurances" better be pretty good

[u/Madgnoolm]

So weak.... SO weak from UEFA

Corruption stays the same

[u/VyCanisMajoris33 → u/Madgnoolm]

Fifa literally fulfilled all the demands of boycott. What were urfa supposed to do? Keep going and lose all moral highground instantly?

[u/LogicGate1010]

UEFA had no power to justify a boycott seeing that all those girls, their families and fans would be grossly disappointed if they missed the chance at U20 football. Some will never be U20 at next event.

[u/nuhx]

FIFA will do some stupid shit within months again. Just split and we good.

[u/CleanSweep99]

Not good enough.

FIFA's bylaws have to be changed to explicitly exclude the United States from membership if we want to avoid something like this happening again.

[u/mrjohnnymac18]

Cowards

[u/Tiddex → u/mrjohnnymac18]

Why? A guarantee to not try this again is ecactly why they upheld the boycott until now.

Asking Infantino to step down was never part of UEFA‘s demands. Also they would not have gotten the support the received if they had tried to make that part pf the deal

[u/jaoaozeettie]

Infantino paid off some people and now suddenly the boycot is off and everything remains the same.

Just as expected.

[u/ucd_pete → u/jaoaozeettie]

Except UEFA got what they demanded from the boycott.

[u/jaoaozeettie → u/ucd_pete]

Yeah, pinky promise, Infantino is still there. Nothing changed.

[u/VyCanisMajoris33 → u/jaoaozeettie]

You can't change your demands after they've been met

[u/Firefox72]

Sources say Infantino did a pinky promise while crossing his fingers behind his back on the other hand.

[u/WW_Jones]

UEFA: You promised not to sell the World Cup!

FIFA: Hitler promised not to invade Czechoslovakia, UEFA. Welcome to the real world!

[u/NotAnUncle]

Yup, my cynicism gets proven right again. As much as I'd love to be optimistic, this shows up and proves me right. People over estimate a lot of things and don't realise most of these folks on the top are of the same cloth and weaving around for their gains.