NZ Football to send team to U20 World Cup despite calls for Fifa boycott
New Zealand Football has committed to sending a team to the Fifa Under-20 Women’s World Cup, despite calls to boycott the competition.
The tournament in Poland is the first Fifa competition since Uefa member associations unanimously supported a boycott of events staged by football’s global governing body because of plans by Fifa president Gianni Infantino to sell commercial rights in its competitions to private investors.
New Zealand Football confirmed to Reuters a team will be sent despite the backlash against Infantino.
“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,” it said in a statement.
Infantino has come under increased criticism since his private investment plans failed, with Chelsea FC Women and England player Lucy Bronze speaking out in support of a boycott of Fifa competitions.
The Italian-Swiss administrator has come under more scrutiny over allegations of a workplace affair during his time with Uefa, but US President Donald Trump has come out in support of the Fifa president.
New Zealand Football will send a team to the Under-20 Women's World Cup despite calls for a boycott over Fifa president Gianni Infantino's leadership. Photo / Photosport
“Fifa would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing president Gianni Infantino,” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
He called Infantino “fantastic” and that he “presided over the most successful World Cup”.
“If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again!”
An open letter from three confederations, including Uefa, North America’s Concacaf and Asia’s AFC has openly criticised Infantino’s leadership, but African football’s CAF released a statement where it expressed support for Infantino.
Uefa’s threat of a boycott could amount to nothing more than that, after European powerhouses France also confirmed they still plan to compete at the U20 Women’s World Cup.
England’s Football Association, which has already withdrawn its support for Infantino, did not comment to Reuters about whether its team would still take part in the competition.
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