UEFA set to drop FIFA boycott threat ahead of Champions League draw

UEFA is set to formally withdraw its threat to boycott FIFA competitions, after FIFA gave assurances it will not revive its controversial World Cup investment plan. The decision, confirmed on Thursday alongside the Champions League draw, allows European teams to keep competing in FIFA tournaments, including next month's U20 Women's World Cup in Poland.

Why did UEFA threaten to boycott FIFA?

UEFA threatened to boycott FIFA after learning that FIFA planned to create a commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), allowing private investors to take stakes in revenue from tournaments such as the World Cup and Club World Cup.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin called the plan a "shady, opaque backroom deal" and warned it could damage the sport's integrity.

Why is UEFA dropping the boycott threat now?

UEFA is dropping the threat after FIFA assured the body that the investment proposal will not return in its current or reworked form. That assurance was enough to satisfy UEFA's main objection, even though the wider relationship between the two organisations remains tense. European teams can now take part in upcoming FIFA competitions without disruption.

What does dropping the boycott mean for European football?

The move means European teams can continue competing in FIFA tournaments as planned. Six European nations, including hosts Poland, are set to play in next month's U20 Women's World Cup, and European qualifying for the 2027 Women's World Cup will proceed uninterrupted.

It also lets UEFA's 55 member associations present a united front against FIFA's leadership without risking their teams' place in global competitions.

Is the UEFA-FIFA dispute fully resolved?

No, the wider dispute between UEFA and FIFA president Gianni Infantino is far from over. UEFA still wants an independent investigation into how the FFE proposal was developed in the first place. The governing body also continues to push for Infantino to step down from his role.

What is at stake in this season's Champions League?

Paris Saint-Germain begin the new campaign chasing a third consecutive European title, after beating Arsenal on penalties in last season's final in Budapest. Only Real Madrid, who won three straight European Cups between 2016 and 2018, have managed that feat in the last 50 years. This will be the third season of the competition's expanded format, with 36 teams playing eight different opponents each in a single league phase.