Infantino’s presence uncertain as FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup opens in Poland
Around 15,000 spectators are expected in Katowice on Saturday as the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup gets underway in Poland, but the attendance of FIFA President Gianni Infantino remains uncertain. The tournament, which runs from September 5 to 27 across four Polish cities, marks the first major FIFA competition since a bitter governance dispute erupted over Infantino’s controversial proposal to bring private investors into the commercial rights of FIFA competitions. The fallout has intensified scrutiny of Infantino’s leadership, with UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF among those calling for his resignation. Despite the mounting pressure, the 56-year-old has said he intends to seek a fourth term at the FIFA Congress in March 2027. No challenger has formally entered the race, although UEFA has indicated it will work with other confederations to identify an alternative candidate. FIFA was unable to confirm on Friday whether Infantino would attend Satur...