UEFA ready to drop FIFA boycott after World Cup sale assurances

UEFA is poised to drop its threatened boycott of FIFA competitions after receiving concrete guarantees that football's global governing body will never attempt a repeat of Gianni Infantino's plan to sell stakes in the World Cup. European teams are likely to be cleared for participation in the upcoming under-20 Women's World Cup, along with subsequent tournaments, after FIFA provided binding assurances that no equivalent of its president's ill-fated scheme will be put on the table.

• UEFA had threatened the boycott after details of Infantino's Fifa Forward Enterprise project became public.
• FIFA has now pledged in private correspondence that a similar World Cup privatisation plan will not be repeated.
• England, France and Spain had already named their squads for the under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland.
• The boycott could be officially dropped at UEFA's executive committee meeting in Monte Carlo.
• UEFA's stance that Infantino should be replaced has not changed.

Why UEFA threatened to boycott FIFA over Infantino's World Cup plan

The conflict erupted when details of Infantino's Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal came to light, a scheme that would have given private investors a stake in World Cup rights. UEFA responded harshly and threatened to stay away from FIFA-run tournaments. Although the plan was withdrawn just four days after it became public, the European body kept its warning in place, arguing that the condition that "such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again" had not been met.

The private talks that unblocked the UEFA-FIFA standoff

Despite the public exchange of barbs, UEFA and FIFA are understood to have been holding private discussions for several weeks over the terms of removing the boycott threat. The European governing body finally obtained the reassurances it required. When FIFA confirmed its decision to abandon the FFE project, it did not pledge that a similar privatisation plan would never be repeated, but it has now done so in private correspondence with UEFA.

Which European teams are set for the under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland

A decision to drop the boycott will allow England, who named their squad for the tournament last week, to travel to Poland in time for the opening game against Canada on 5 September. France and Spain had also listed their travelling party in anticipation that the boycott would be lifted. Portugal, Italy and the host nation are the other European countries due to compete.

The Monte Carlo meeting and Infantino's future at FIFA

While the boycott is yet to be publicly dropped, it is among the topics that may arise in a meeting of UEFA's executive committee and federation chiefs in Monte Carlo on Thursday. The 55 heads of UEFA's member associations will convene before the Champions League draw during what is traditionally a significant few days in the European football calendar.

UEFA's position that Infantino must be replaced has not changed and further steps regarding its stance towards the FIFA leadership will also be discussed at the meeting on Thursday.

Relief for young players amid the battle for football's future

There will be relief in some quarters that younger players, in particular, will not become embroiled in the volatile battle for football's future. But the fact that FIFA has been forced to mitigate for its president's actions represents another humiliation for an organisation persistently hit by scandal.

Frequently asked questions about the UEFA boycott of FIFA