European football governing body UEFA is reportedly preparing to end its boycott threat against FIFA tournaments following assurances regarding President Gianni Infantino’s controversial private investment initiative.
The potential policy shift is expected to be addressed during an upcoming UEFA member association meeting, according to sources speaking with the Associated Press on Wednesday.
In late July, UEFA had announced that its 55 member associations would withdraw from FIFA competitions as long as the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal remained active.
The abandoned plan had proposed allowing third-party investors to acquire stakes in the FFE, a new subsidiary managing FIFA’s commercial activities and major events, including the World Cup.
While UEFA welcomed FIFA’s recent abandonment of the widely-criticized proposal earlier this month, the organization indicated that additional requirements for lifting the boycott had not yet been satisfied.
“UEFA’s associations were very clear about the conditions attached to the non-participation in FIFA competitions,” UEFA stated in an early August announcement.
“First, the proposals to sell off the major competitions had to be withdrawn and secondly, assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again. These conditions have not been met,” the statement continued.
Should UEFA proceed with ending its boycott threat, it would enable six European teams to participate in next month’s Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.
Poland, England, France, Portugal, Spain, and Italy are currently scheduled to compete in the tournament.
European Unity Against Infantino’s Leadership
UEFA’s position coincides with recent withdrawals of support for Infantino’s 2027 FIFA presidential reelection campaign from Italy and Romania.
Giovanni Malagò, president of the Italian Football Federation, emphasized in a Wednesday statement: “We will continue to work alongside UEFA and other European federations to promote football grounded in merit, solidarity, sustainability, and fan engagement.”
“We embrace a model of dialogue, active listening, and shared responsibility that has historically enabled football to evolve, innovate, and uphold its foundational values,” Malagò added.
Răzvan Burleanu, head of the Romanian Football Federation, echoed similar concerns: “FIFA requires new leadership capable of fostering consensus and unity, building trust, and bringing stakeholders together rather than creating divisions.”
Despite mounting opposition, Infantino retains significant backing from nations including Argentina, Mexico, and six Arab football associations.
US President Donald Trump publicly endorsed the embattled FIFA chief in August, stating on Truth Social that FIFA “would be making a terrible mistake” by considering a change in leadership.
“He is fantastic, having just overseen the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented,” Trump wrote, adding: “His departure would mean it will never again achieve similar levels of success or profitability.”