3 min readUpdated: Aug 27, 2026 11:06 PM IST
UEFA is set to withdraw its threat of a boycott against FIFA competitions after receiving binding assurances from the global governing body that it will never revive Gianni Infantino’s controversial plan to sell off a stake in the World Cup, according to a report from The Guardian.
On Thursday UEFA corroborated the report, saying in a press release that it had provisionally suspended plans to withdraw European teams from FIFA competitions after world football’s governing body confirmed its controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise project had been permanently abandoned.
Europe’s governing body said it had written assurances that the proposal championed by FIFA chief Infantino, which would have sold a stake in future World Cups to outside investors, had been “irrevocably and permanently withdrawn”.
“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,” UEFA said.
Statement by National Association representatives serving on the UEFA Executive Committee, European FIFA Council members and Presidents of UEFA National Associations.https://t.co/OpJklNZlf3 pic.twitter.com/00qEY5Ug8s
— UEFA (@UEFA) August 27, 2026
Earlier, The Guardian report had stated that European teams have been cleared to participate in the upcoming Under-20 Women’s World Cup and future tournaments, following FIFA’s written guarantees that no equivalent of the president’s ill-fated proposal will be pursued again.
Despite public clashes, UEFA and FIFA have reportedly been engaged in private discussions for several weeks to negotiate the terms of lifting the boycott threat. The European body has now obtained the reassurances it sought.
FIFA welcomed the end of the standoff, saying: “FIFA is pleased that all qualified teams will be participating in the upcoming FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup. FIFA strongly believes that football has the power to unite, even in challenging circumstances, and looks forward to welcoming all teams and players to Poland.”
The boycott has not yet been formally withdrawn by UEFA, whose executive committee and federation chiefs are scheduled to meet in Monte Carlo on Thursday. The 55 heads of UEFA’s member associations will gather before the Champions League draw, during what is traditionally a significant period in the European football calendar.
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Earlier, UEFA had threatened a boycott after Infantino’s FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal came to light, and doubled down even after it was scrapped. The European body insisted that the condition that “such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again” had not been met at the time.
FIFA’s original plan was to create a semi-private subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise to sell minority, non-controlling stakes in the commercial operations of the World Cup and other tournaments. While retaining majority control, FIFA aimed to raise $4.2 billion from long-term investors. However, the move prompted UEFA to threaten a boycott, with its member associations unanimously voting to pull out of FIFA competitions in protest.
