Uefa is reportedly poised to end its boycott of the World Cup and other Fifa tournaments, as Gianni Infantino's proposed sell-off plan has failed to materialise. Last month, European football's governing body, along with all 55 of its members, announced intentions to boycott Fifa-sanctioned tournaments until Infantino abandoned his proposal to sell stakes in Fifa tournaments and provided assurances that such attempts would not be repeated.
According to The Guardian, Uefa bosses are expected to inform their executive committee and the presidents of numerous member associations at a meeting in Monaco on Thursday that these two conditions have been satisfied. This development is timely, with six European teams, including England, scheduled to fly to Poland on Monday for the Fifa Under-20 Women’s World Cup, which commences on Saturday, 5 September.
The move also removes uncertainty for the senior England women’s football team, who are aiming to navigate play-offs later this year to qualify for next summer’s World Cup in Brazil. However, Uefa's stance on Infantino's position as Fifa president remains unchanged, with several associations withdrawing their support ahead of next year's presidential election. Infantino's future and Uefa's subsequent actions are slated for discussion at Thursday's meeting, which precedes the Champions League league-stage draw at 5pm (BST) in Monte-Carlo.