Soccer-Infantino attendance uncertain as FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup opens in Poland
The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup has begun in Poland, though FIFA President Gianni Infantino's attendance remains unconfirmed amid ongoing governance tensions. Infantino is currently facing pressure from major confederations following a failed proposal to sell a stake in FIFA competitions.
Why it matters
The tournament serves as a backdrop for broader internal power struggles within global football governance and the future of FIFA's commercial strategy.
KATOWICE, Poland, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Some 15,000 people are expected for the opening matches of the Under-20 Women’s World Cup on Saturday, but it is not yet clear whether FIFA President Gianni Infantino will be among them.
The tournament, which runs until September 27 in Poland, is the first major FIFA competition that could have been affected by the governance standoff that followed Infantino's proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors.
Infantino abandoned the proposal on July 31 after fierce opposition from UEFA and other stakeholders.
The FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan envisaged transferring commercial rights linked to FIFA competitions, including the men’s and women’s World Cups and Club World Cup, into a new subsidiary, with outside investors paying about $4.2 billion for a stake that valued the business at around $20 billion.
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