New Zealand joins France in committing to FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup
FILE PHOTO: The logo of FIFA is seen in front of its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland September 26, 2017. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
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Aug 11 : New Zealand have joined France in confirming they intend to compete at next month’s Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland, as the tournament prepares to become the first FIFA event staged amid the backlash against global football chief Gianni Infantino.
It will be the first FIFA competition since UEFA’s 55 member associations unanimously voted to support a boycott of FIFA events after Infantino proposed and then abandoned a plan to carve off the commercial rights to the World Cup and sell 20 per cent of them to private investors to raise about $4.2 billion.
That triggered a massive football governance dispute.
“New Zealand Football is sending a team to the U20 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Poland next month, the tournament is critical in the development for the women’s game,” a New Zealand Football spokesperson told Reuters on Tuesday.
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France became the first nation to confirm participation in the 24-team tournament.
“For now, France will be participating to the FIFA U20 Women World Cup,” the federation said.
England’s Football Association and Canada Soccer said they had no comment at this time, while U.S. Soccer is expected to attend the tournament. The federation declined to comment.
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UEFA doubled down on its boycott threat last week.
“UEFA’s associations were very clear about the conditions attached to the non participation in FIFA competitions,” the European football federation said in a statement.
“These conditions have not been met. In addition, UEFA made it abundantly clear in its statement on (July 30) that it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino’s presidency. That position holds.”
A Reuters source close said during weekend discussions between the confederations that there was an acknowledgement that there might need to be talks down the line about alternative tournaments.
“Those talks have not yet been had and it is hoped they will not be necessary,” the source said.
Women’s football stands to be the first area significantly affected should the dispute escalate again.
FIFA’s Under-17 Women’s World Cup is scheduled for October in Morocco, and European nations including World Cup runners-up England have scheduled qualifying matches for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
Hosts Poland say preparations for the Under-20 event have not wavered.
“Preparations for the Women’s U-20 World Cup are proceeding according to the previously established schedule and have entered their final stage,” the PZPN said in an emailed statement last week. “The PZPN has received no information regarding the potential withdrawal of any team from the tournament.”
Source: Reuters
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