Sport
UEFA Likely to Drop World Cup Boycott Threat Following FIFA Policy Shift
UEFA and other major football confederations are expected to withdraw boycott threats after FIFA abandoned plans to sell shares of the World Cup to private investors.
According to a report by BBC Sport cited by Khaosod Online, UEFA is poised to rescind its threat to boycott FIFA-sanctioned tournaments. This development follows assurances from FIFA that it has scrapped a controversial proposal by President Gianni Infantino to sell a 20% stake in the World Cup to private entities through a new company, FFE.
Previously, UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC had expressed strong opposition to the privatization of World Cup commercial rights, with European nations threatening to withdraw from the competition entirely if the plan proceeded. The matter is scheduled for discussion at an upcoming UEFA executive committee meeting in Monaco, where the boycott threat is expected to be formally lifted.
For residents and travelers in Thailand, this news ensures stability for upcoming international football events. The immediate impact is the confirmation that the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, scheduled to take place in Poland next month, will proceed as planned with the participation of six European nations. While the threat of a boycott appears to be receding, observers are waiting for the official outcome of the Monaco meeting to confirm that all tensions regarding FIFA’s governance and commercial structure have been fully resolved.