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UEFA lifts boycott threat after FIFA promise
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
UEFA poised to lift boycott after FIFA promised no World Cup sale repeat.
European teams likely cleared for U-20 Women's World Cup, easing rift.
Background
UEFA had threatened to boycott FIFA competitions after FIFA president Gianni Infantino proposed selling stakes in the World Cup, a plan that was withdrawn but left UEFA demanding assurances it would never be repeated. FIFA has now provided binding guarantees, leading UEFA to likely drop the boycott and allow European teams to participate in the upcoming U-20 Women's World Cup in Poland.
How it unfolded
- recentlyFIFA president Gianni Infantino's plan to sell World Cup stakes was revealed and withdrawn, but UEFA continued its boycott threat, demanding assurances it would never be repeated.
- Aug 19, 2026USA U-20 women's coach Vicky Jepson said the tournament would go ahead despite UEFA's boycott threat, noting the noise hadn't affected her team.
- Aug 26, 2026The Guardian reported UEFA is poised to lift the boycott after FIFA provided binding assurances, with European teams likely cleared for the U-20 Women's World Cup; a UEFA executive committee meeting in Monte Carlo is scheduled for Thursday.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- UEFA had threatened boycott after Infantino's proposal, demanding assurances that such attempts would never be made again.
- Analysts
- Journalist Romain Molina reported UEFA has abandoned the idea of boycotting the Women's U-20 World Cup but may take more decisive actions against Infantino himself.
- Public
- USA coach Vicky Jepson expressed confidence the tournament would proceed, saying she was not concerned about the boycott threat.
Still unverified
The exact details of FIFA's binding assurances and whether UEFA will take further measures against Infantino are not fully confirmed.