U20 Women's World Cup 2026: Poland announces it will continue hosting despite tensions surrounding FIFA
As the host nation for the tournament scheduled from September 5 to 27, the Polish Football Association assures that preparations are proceeding as planned, despite the ongoing crisis between FIFA and several confederations, according to Weszlo.
The Polish Football Association (PZPN) is displaying confidence. While tensions between FIFA and several continental confederations fuel fears of a potential boycott of FIFA competitions, the organization of the 2026 U20 Women's World Cup is, for now, not in question.
Set to take place from September 5 to 27 in Poland, this 12th edition of the tournament is the first major FIFA event affected by the crisis sparked by the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project, which aims to create a new commercial entity with a share of its capital potentially open to private investors.
Poland continues preparations
In an official statement, the Polish Federation states that it is continuing to prepare for the competition according to the timetable established with FIFA and UEFA.
"As the host federation, we are fully prepared to organize the tournament and are moving forward with all necessary preparations. We remain in close contact with our UEFA partners and are working in line with our shared agreements," the PZPN said.
The Polish body added that it hopes for a swift resolution to the conflict so that "young players from around the world can experience a tournament that represents a dream and a significant milestone in their careers."
A competition at the heart of the crisis
The tournament comes amid particularly high tensions. UEFA and its 55 member associations have announced their intention to boycott FIFA competitions if the plan for partial privatization of global tournaments is maintained.
This opposition is now shared by Concacaf, which has officially rejected the proposal, as well as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which has expressed solidarity with UEFA and Concacaf's positions, calling for greater transparency and adherence to governance procedures.
A highly charged schedule
The U20 Women's World Cup will take place before the deadline set by FIFA. The 211 member federations must vote on the FIFA Forward Enterprise project no later than September 19—right in the middle of the tournament.
Poland is set to host six European teams, including England, France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy, in addition to the host nation. At this stage, the PZPN states that it has not received any official notice of withdrawal from the qualified federations.
This tournament could thus become the first real test of the tangible consequences of the institutional crisis currently shaking global football.
Africa
13 July 2026
World Cup 2026
11 July 2026
