France set to take part in U20 Women’s World Cup
France Confirms U20 Women's World Cup Participation Amid UEFA Boycott Uncertainty
Ninoda.com – Paris FC's Maeline Mendy, who led the French Under-19 squad to the 2025 European Championship final, is among those representing her nation at the upcoming tournament. The French Football Federation has confirmed that France will compete in the Under-20 Women's World Cup scheduled for next month, despite ongoing concerns about a potential UEFA boycott of FIFA competitions.
The tournament is set to begin in Poland in 29 days' time. While France has moved forward with its preparations, England's participation remains uncertain. The English Football Association declined to comment when questioned by BBC Sport regarding whether their team will travel to Poland for the event.
Background to the Boycott Threat
The controversy stems from FIFA president Gianni Infantino's proposal to sell competition stakes to private investors. All 55 European member associations initially voted to boycott FIFA competitions until these plans were withdrawn. Although Infantino subsequently apologized for his "errors" and the proposals were abandoned, UEFA maintained that the boycott could still proceed.
When contacted by BBC Sport, the French Football Federation clarified that their tournament plans remain unchanged. "For now, France will be participating to the Fifa U20 Women World Cup," the federation stated in a Thursday announcement.
Tournament Schedule and Potential Impact
Six European nations are expected to compete: England, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and host nation Poland. Women's football faces the earliest consequences if UEFA maintains its position. The Women's Under-20 World Cup begins on September 5, followed by World Cup qualifiers for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland in October. The Under-17 Women's World Cup is also scheduled for Morocco in October.
Should European teams miss out on play-off positions due to the boycott, they would be unable to participate in the 2027 Women's World Cup. Spain, currently defending champions, would be among those affected.
Player and Official Reactions
England defender Lucy Bronze, a two-time European champion, expressed support for the boycott despite its potential impact on women's football. Speaking during Chelsea's pre-season tour in New Zealand, she explained her position:
I think the players who play in those competitions, the European players, we stand by our beliefs and what the right thing is for our game. And if that means boycotting competitions, then that has to happen. It's for the future of the game and not just for me today and tomorrow. It's for all the little girls or little boys who come after us to make sure that they're in a good place when the game's moving forward in decades to come, not just tomorrow.
Former England defender Anita Asante told BBC Sport that women's football tournaments would be the first to suffer. She warned that if the situation is not resolved before England's qualifiers, the consequences could be substantial given the already congested fixture calendar.
Baroness Campbell, the Football Association's former director of women's football, described the prospect of women's football being affected first as "tragic." The English FA has formally withdrawn its support for Infantino through an official letter. Wales, Albania, and Croatia are among other individual associations that have distanced themselves from the 56-year-old FIFA president.
Meanwhile, Mexico has broken from European ranks to join Argentina in backing Infantino's continued tenure as FIFA president, even as he apologized for his mistakes.
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