France set for U20 Women's World Cup despite Uefa boycott threat
France confirm their plans to compete in next month's Under-20 Women's World Cup remain unchanged despite Uefa's ongoing boycott threat against Fifa, while England's participation hangs in the balance.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- France confirm participation in the upcoming U20 Women's World Cup in Poland.
- Uefa previously threatened a boycott of Fifa events over private investment plans.
- The English FA remains unable to confirm whether the Lionesses will take part.
France have affirmed that their preparations for the Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland next month remain unaffected, despite Uefa maintaining that a boycott of Fifa competitions could still proceed. The standoff follows a vote by European football's 55 member associations to boycott all Fifa events after president Gianni Infantino proposed selling competition stakes to private investors—a plan that has since been aborted alongside an apology from Infantino for his errors.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
It remains uncertain whether England will travel to the tournament, as the Football Association declined to provide a comment to BBC Sport regarding the team's participation in the competition, which is scheduled to kick off in 29 days. Six European sides—England, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and hosts Poland—are currently slated to feature in the tournament.
The friction between European governing bodies and Fifa highlights the fragile governance structures in international football, where commercial disputes at the top executive level frequently cast a shadow over youth and women's tournaments that bear the brunt of administrative standoffs.
Women's football stands as the primary sector facing immediate disruption should Uefa uphold its stance, with a critical timeline ahead:
- 5 September: Under-20 Women's World Cup scheduled to begin.
- October: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland face Women's World Cup qualifiers for next summer in Brazil.
- October: Under-17 Women's World Cup scheduled to take place in Morocco.
- June 2027: European teams, including holders Spain, risk missing the Women's World Cup if sidelined from playoffs due to the boycott.
"And if that means boycotting competitions, then that has to happen. It's for the future of the game and not just for me today and tomorrow."
Anita Asante
While the English FA has formally withdrawn its support for Infantino through a letter, alongside individual associations from Wales, Albania, and Croatia turning their backs on the 56-year-old, the French Football Federation (FFF) stated that its tournament trajectory has not shifted, declaring that France will be participating in the Fifa U20 Women's World Cup for now.
Source: BBC Sport
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