Poland says Women’s World Cup plan on course despite UEFA boycott of FIFA

Hosts Poland have said that preparations for next month’s Under-20 Women’s World Cup remain on schedule, as the ⁠tournament prepares to become the first FIFA event staged amid the backlash against global football chief Gianni Infantino.

It will be the first FIFA competition since UEFA’s 55 member associations unanimously voted to support a boycott of FIFA events after Infantino proposed, ⁠and then abandoned, a plan to carve off the commercial rights to the World Cup and sell 20 percent of them to private investors to raise about $4.2bn.

That triggered a massive football governance dispute.

“Preparations for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup are progressing according to the agreed schedule and have now entered their final stage,” the Polish federation said in a statement to the Reuters news agency on Tuesday.

“The Polish Football ‌Association (PZPN) has not received any information regarding the possible withdrawal of any participating team from the tournament. We believe that the current situation will be resolved swiftly.

“For many of these young players, this tournament represents an important milestone in their sporting careers, and we remain fully focused on delivering an event worthy of their talent and commitment.”

New Zealand have joined France in confirming they intend to compete at the tournament, which runs from September 5 to 27.

“New Zealand Football is sending a team to the U20 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Poland next month. The tournament is ⁠critical in the development for the women’s game,” a New Zealand Football spokesperson told Reuters ⁠on Tuesday.

France became the first nation to confirm participation in the 24-team tournament.

“For now, France will be participating in the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup,” the federation said.

England’s FA and Canada Soccer said they had no comment at this time, while the US are expected to attend the tournament. The ⁠US Soccer Federation declined to comment.

Boycott Threat

European soccer governing body UEFA doubled down on its boycott threat last week.

“UEFA’s associations were very clear about the conditions attached to the non ⁠participation in FIFA competitions,” the European football federation said in a statement.

“These conditions ⁠have not been met. In addition, UEFA made it abundantly clear in its statement on [July 30] that it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino’s presidency. That position holds.”

A source close to the situation said that during weekend discussions between the confederations there was an acknowledgement that there might need to be ‌talks down the line about alternative tournaments.

“Those talks have not yet been had, and it is hoped they will not be necessary,” the source said.

Women’s football stands to be the first area significantly affected should the dispute escalate again.

FIFA’s Under-17 Women’s ‌World ‌Cup is scheduled for October in Morocco, and European nations including World Cup runners-up England have scheduled qualifying matches for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.