Uefa set to drop Fifa tournament boycott threat

UEFA is poised to abandon its boycott threat against FIFA, following assurances that Gianni Infantino's proposal to sell World Cup stakes to private investors will not be repeated, BBC Sport has learned. FIFA has welcomed the news, stating that all qualified teams will participate in the upcoming Under-20 Women's World Cup. The issue will be formally discussed at a Uefa executive committee meeting in Monaco on Thursday.

Uefa initially insisted that Infantino's plan, despite its cancellation, did not meet the conditions required to avoid a boycott. The threat came after Infantino and FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom notified national member associations that the proposal was "now off the table" and apologized for "errors." If the boycott is lifted, the Under-20 Women's World Cup scheduled for next month will proceed as planned, featuring six European teams: England, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and hosts Poland.

Uefa has led the criticism of Infantino and is expected to continue pushing for reforms in FIFA's leadership. Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin believes Infantino will either resign or face a challenge from another candidate in the March elections. FIFA spokespersons expressed strong commitment to football's unifying power and continued global development, while a source close to the discussions noted that Uefa's opponents would persist until significant changes occur.

This is not seen as a Uefa defeat but rather a resolution to prevent damaging young players over a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.