FIFA Unsure If Infantino Will Attend U-20 Women’s World Cup as Pressure Mounts

FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s attendance at the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland remains uncertain as he faces growing opposition over his leadership and an abandoned plan to sell a stake in the organisation’s World Cup business.

The tournament begins on Saturday in Katowice, where hosts Poland will face Argentina before Mexico take on Benin. The opening matches are expected to attract about 15,000 spectators.

Infantino has come under pressure from several regional football confederations after his controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal was withdrawn on July 31. The plan would have transferred commercial rights linked to major FIFA competitions into a new subsidiary and offered outside investors a stake reportedly worth about $4.2 billion in a business valued at around $20 billion.

UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF have all criticised the proposal, with calls for Infantino to step down emerging despite his decision to seek a fourth term as FIFA president in 2027.

No candidate has formally announced a challenge to Infantino so far. UEFA, however, has said it will work with other confederations to ensure FIFA member associations have a credible alternative. The deadline for presidential candidates to enter the race is November 18, ahead of the FIFA Congress in March 2027.

The FIFA president has continued to make public appearances since abandoning the investment plan. He attended the Esports World Cup closing ceremony in Paris and later watched Vietnam defeat Thailand in the ASEAN Championship in Hanoi. He also visited the Dominican Republic during a CONCACAF Under-14 tournament despite an appeal from CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani for him to stay away.

Montagliani has been mentioned as a possible challenger to Infantino but has not declared his candidacy. The FIFA president’s presence at the Under-20 Women’s World Cup could therefore attract additional attention to the governance dispute surrounding the organisation.

The Poland tournament runs until September 27 and features 24 teams representing all six FIFA confederations. The competition is regarded as an important pathway for emerging players, many of whom could go on to represent their countries at senior level, including at next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

FIFA has also introduced a new coaching requirement for its women’s competitions, under which every participating team must have a woman serving as head coach or among its assistant coaches. Defending champions North Korea are among the top-seeded sides alongside Poland, Japan, Spain, Brazil and France.