Women’s U20 World Cup boycott could send message to Fifa amid governance concerns

By Charlie Bradshaw — 15 August 2026 — 3 min read

Calls for Change at Fifa

The prospect of a boycott at the upcoming Women’s Under-20 World Cup in September, the Women’s Under-17 World Cup in October, and the senior Women’s World Cup playoff ties for next summer’s tournament in Brazil, could deliver a significant message to Fifa. This potential action follows a period of controversy surrounding Fifa president Gianni Infantino, whose tenure has drawn criticism regarding governance and transparency.

Lisa Nandy, a culture secretary, has stated that Infantino “should go” but also expressed opposition to boycotts, arguing they unfairly penalise athletes. However, some within the football community respectfully disagree, believing that a boycott, despite its potential short-term impact on young players, could be a powerful tool for change.

The debate over a boycott comes after an attempt by Infantino to sell a stake in Fifa’s commercial operations to a private investment company, a move that has since been abandoned. This initiative, which would have included all Fifa women’s tournaments, raised significant concerns about the future governance of the sport.

Concerns Over Representation and Governance

Concerns about representation within Fifa’s structure have been highlighted. For instance, only two women, Paola López of Mexico and Thi My Dung Nguyen of Vietnam, are among the 18 members of Fifa’s disciplinary committee. Furthermore, all 10 members of Fifa’s Future of Football committee are men.

Within Fifa’s council, which is the organisation’s strategic and oversight body, 29 of the 37 members are men, with only eight women. Additionally, seven of the eight vice-presidents are men. These figures contribute to a broader discussion about deep-rooted injustices within the sport’s governing body.

Another point of contention has been the disparity in prize money. The 2023 Women’s World Cup prize money totalled $110m, while the men’s World Cup prize pot was approximately eight times larger, reaching a record-breaking $871m.

While there have been positive developments in women’s football since Infantino took office in 2016, including enhancements for players and coaches, increased financial investment, and a significant uplift in prize money, a 25-page sales pitch for the Fifa Forward Enterprise Member Materials reportedly contained only one reference to women’s football. This lack of focus has led figures like England defender Lucy Bronze to express support for a boycott “for the good of the game.”

Withdrawal of Support and European Stance

Several football associations have recently withdrawn their support for Infantino. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) officially rescinded its letter of support, citing concerns regarding governance, transparency, and a lack of meaningful consultation. The FAI stated its obligation to advocate for best practices given its own past governance challenges.

The Welsh FA was the first home nation to withdraw its support, followed by the FA. The Irish Football Association (IFA) has noted wider concerns within the football community and supports Uefa’s position on the matter, engaging constructively on issues related to football governance.

On Monday, Uefa, along with Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation, signed an open letter accusing Infantino of breaking trust through deception. This collective stance from major football confederations underscores the growing pressure on the Fifa president.

The Oceania Football Confederation declared its support for Infantino, but its largest member, New Zealand, withdrew its backing. New Zealand, which co-hosted the most recent Women’s World Cup, called for “stronger governance, accountability and transparency.”

Amid these developments, Fifa’s website published an article titled “Europe’s finest hours at the Under-20 Women’s World Cup,” highlighting past performances by players like Spain’s Salma Paralluelo in 2022 and Germany striker Alexandra Popp in 2010. Six European teams, including hosts Poland, are scheduled to participate in the upcoming tournament next month.

Source: theguardian.com