UEFA is set to formally withdraw its threat to boycott all FIFA competitions after receiving binding assurances that FIFA president Gianni Infantino's plan to sell stakes in the World Cup and other major tournaments will not be revived, sources said on 27 August 2026 in Monaco [1, 2, 3]. The decision will be made at a UEFA executive committee meeting held today ahead of the Champions League draw [1, 2, 4, 5].
The boycott threat was initially agreed by UEFA's 55 member associations, who declared they would not participate in any FIFA competitions unless the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal was dropped and assurances were received that similar plans would never be pursued again [1, 2, 4]. The proposal involved creating a subsidiary to control FIFA commercial rights, backed by private investors including a New York fund led by Joshua Kushner, aiming to raise about $20 billion [6, 7].
Following widespread backlash, FIFA withdrew the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan in July 2026, just four days after its announcement [1, 4, 6]. UEFA welcomed the withdrawal, but insisted it would continue to press for governance reforms and accountability at FIFA. The European body described the proposal as a "shady, opaque backroom deal" that threatened to disfigure the game by opening competitions to private ownership [8, 9].
UEFA sources said the suspension of the boycott is not a defeat but a recognition of the need to avoid penalizing young players ahead of major tournaments. "This isn't a climbdown. It is not a Uefa defeat, rather the reality of avoiding hurting young players [over a] once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The actions and insistence on change will continue and will win out in the end," one source close to the discussions said [1, 2].
The lifting of the boycott will allow six European teams—England, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Poland as host—to participate in the FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup starting 5 September 2026 in Poland [1, 2, 5]. Several national associations had already named squads and prepared to compete [2, 5].
Despite the boycott threat being dropped, UEFA stresses the wider governance crisis at FIFA remains unresolved. It plans to pursue institutional, political, and legal avenues to reform FIFA governance and limit presidential powers. UEFA has called for Gianni Infantino to resign or face a challenge in the March 2027 presidential election [3, 10, 7]. UEFA decided against a no-confidence vote, describing the three-quarters majority needed as unattainable, and will instead back a unity candidate against Infantino [4].
A UEFA statement said: "Having now secured the two assurances it required from FIFA on 30 July, and following consultation with its National Associations, UEFA has therefore agreed to suspend, on a provisional basis, the withdrawal by European teams from FIFA competitions in the coming season" [10].
The UEFA executive committee meeting today is expected to finalize the boycott withdrawal ahead of the new football season and the upcoming Champions League draw [1, 2, 4].
