Next Fifa tournament set to go AHEAD despite England and Uefa announcing boycott as statement released

POLISH football chiefs expect to stage the U-20 Women’s World Cup as planned in September… despite Uefa’s boycott of Fifa competitions. Fifa president Gianni Infantino plunged world football into chaos earlier this week with his hated plan to privatise the World Cup. Gianni Infantino plunged football into chaos earlier this week Credit: Reuters Uefa have vowed to boycott Fifa competitions Credit: Getty Infantino wants to launch and sell stakes in a subsidiary, named the Fifa Forward Enterprise, to oversee Fifa competitions, including the World Cup. The greedy plan sparked outcry across football, with Uefa member associations agreeing to BOYCOTT Fifa tournaments during an emergency meeting on Thursday. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Despite this stance, the Polish FA (PZPN) expect to go ahead with the U-20 Women’s World Cup between September 5-27 as planned. Their general secretary Lukasz Wachowski told The Athletic: “As the host association, we are fully prepared to deliver the tournament and continue to implement all necessary preparations in line with the agreed schedule. “We remain in close contact with our partners at Uefa and are working in accordance with our joint arrangements. “We believe that the current situation will be resolved swiftly, allowing young players from across the world to compete in Poland in a tournament that, for many of them, will represent the fulfilment of a dream and an important milestone in their sporting careers.” England are scheduled to take part in the competition and have been drawn in Group B alongside Brazil, Canada and Tanzania. But FA chiefs are committed to Uefa’s boycott plan. Most read in Football BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Infantino, 56, has faced a huge backlash for his plan Credit: Getty In addition to the U-20 Women’s World Cup, there is also scheduled to be an Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco and Under-17 Men’s World Cup in Qatar before the end of the year. Fifa need a majority of its 211 members to vote through its hated privatisation plan before September 19 to proceed. The project was left in tatters as Uefa announced its boycott – with Concacaf and the AFC also criticising plans. Fifa have shamelessly vowed to plough on, for now, saying in a statement: “We have heard the feedback provided by the respective confederations in relation to the proposed establishment of Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) and would like to address the issues that have surfaced since the initial media reporting on Tuesday. “We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation. “Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports. “We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each MA has the ability to express its vote based on facts. “FFE has been proposed solely to ensure that all Fifa Member Associations (MAs) have the opportunity to take meaningful ownership of the commercial opportunity of football in their respective countries, and that this does not come at the cost of either the spirit or the governance of FIFA or football itself. “Nobody is selling football. This is not something Fifa would ever entertain. “Everyone has the right to express their opposition and to seek further clarification but no single entity can claim to represent all 211 MAs around the world. “Each MA should be allowed to review the proposal and have a say in shaping their own future. These are the democratic principles of Fifa.” The plan is to sell 20 per cent of the World Cup to private investors for £3.2billion – which values the new commercial arm at £15billion. The scheme would include a payment of £30m to all 211 countries “irrespective” of their support for the plans. American firm Thrive Capital, whose CEO is Donald Trump‘s son-in-law Jared Kushner‘s brother Joshua, are thought be front-runners to invest, should the project go ahead. Fifa's £15bn World Cup sell out FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s controversial plan to sell of shares in the World Cup has triggered an unprecedented civil war in world football The battle lines are drawn – between a unified Western front threatening a total boycott and smaller nations enticed by Infantino’s promise of £30million per country if they accept his scheme. WHO OPPOSES THE SALE? Opposition to the proposal is massive, swift, and led by the sport’s most powerful confederations, led by Europe. Uefa (Europe): In a historic 55-0 unanimous vote, European football’s governing body resolved to boycott the World Cup and all other Fifa competitions if the plan passes. Concacaf (North/Central America & Caribbean): All 41 member nations unanimously rejected the proposal. AFC (Asian Football Confederation): AFC President Sheikh Salman voiced “great concern and disappointment” over Infantino’s lack of transparency. Political leaders: Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy strongly backed the boycott, declaring football belongs to fans, not billionaire investors. Even disgraced former Fifa President Sepp Blatter also blasted Infantino. WHO SUPPORTS IT? Support for the plan is driven by Infantino’s administration and the promise of massive financial windfalls to individual countries Fifa’s executive leadership: Infantino is aggressively driving the deal, framing it as a “democratic consultation” and a “golden opportunity” to turbocharge global football development. Private investors (The Kushner Family / Thrive Capital): American firm Thrive Capital, founded by Joshua Kushner (brother to Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner), leads the billionaire group buying into the World Cup. Wall Street giant JP Morgan is also supporting the venture as Fifa’s financial adviser. Small nations: Infantino’s core support relies on smaller, cash-strapped nations in developing regions who will be tempted by his guarantee of £30m each. Middle Eastern backers: Insiders expect heavy investment interest from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Qatar who both enjoy highly lucrative ties with Infantino’s regime. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? The proposal requires a simple majority (50% plus one) of Fifa’s 211 members to pass on 19 September. Infantino may secure the votes of smaller nations. But pushing the deal through without Europe and North America threatens to break global football apart. Comment now