U-20 Women's World Cup: A Women's Football Stage Caught in FIFA's Power Struggle

Hook

Katowice, Poland. Opening day of the U-20 Women's World Cup. Poland face Argentina, Mexico face Benin. But nobody is sure whether FIFA President Gianni Infantino will show up.

I sit in the press room, staring at the notice: "FIFA cannot yet confirm the President's presence." A rare ambiguity in FIFA's media machine — where schedules are usually locked in days ahead. That ambiguity doesn't come from Katowice weather. It comes from the temperature of the power room.

This is the first major FIFA competition that could be affected by the governance crisis following Infantino's withdrawal of the plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors.

Context

Let's set the frame. The U-20 Women's World Cup is a critical development tournament in the women's game. 24 teams, all six confederations represented, converge on Poland. Many players hope to eventually feature at the senior Women's World Cup in Brazil next year. This is a showcase stage, a key evaluation point for national federations planning their senior squads.

North Korea are the defending champions after winning the 2026 edition, seeded in the top pot alongside hosts Poland, Japan, Spain, Brazil and France.

But beneath the pure football layer, a new FIFA regulation casts a shadow over the entire tournament: each team in FIFA women's competitions must have a woman as head coach or among the assistant coaches.

A structural intervention, not an on-pitch innovation.

Core

I've followed women's football long enough to know that youth tournaments are often undervalued. People see 24 teams and think it's a large friendly. I see a development pipeline — where the stars of the 2026 Brazil World Cup are being shaped.

But this year, the sporting story risks being overshadowed by the power struggle. My work on the Oscar deal in 2026 taught me one thing: never ignore the numbers behind the story. And the number here is $4.2 billion.

Infantino abandoned the proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors on July 31 after fierce opposition from UEFA and other stakeholders. The FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan envisaged transferring commercial rights linked to FIFA competitions — men's and women's World Cups, Club World Cup — into a new subsidiary. Outside investors would pay about $4.2 billion for a stake valuing the business at around $20 billion.

The $20 billion valuation sounds grand. But put it in context. If FIFA's annual revenue sits in the $4-5 billion range — figures published in its financial reports — this valuation implies roughly 4-5x annual revenue. That multiple is consistent with premium sports-rights valuations, but it assumes sustained growth in World Cup cycle revenues.

That assumption may be challenged as the Club World Cup expands and the global broadcasting market shows signs of saturation.

The fact the plan was abandoned rather than merely postponed says a lot. It suggests the political cost of pushing it through exceeded the financial benefit. In an organization where Infantino usually prevails, this is a rare outcome.

Three of six confederations — UEFA, AFC, CONCACAF — have called for his resignation. UEFA has said it will work with other confederations to ensure member associations are offered a credible alternative.

That's not just opposition. That's an active effort to recruit and support a challenger.

Contrarian

Now, let's talk about what most articles miss.

People say women don't understand the number 10. But I've seen the number 10 cry. And in this context, I see something else that the male-dominated media might miss: the women's coaching regulation FIFA introduced this year is not purely a humanitarian act.

It's a strategic move.

While three confederations call for resignation, FIFA needs a positive story to burnish its image. The regulation requiring a woman as head coach or among assistants positions FIFA as progressive on gender representation. It's a sound policy gesture — but the timing, issued amid a governance crisis, makes me question the motive.

And there's another blind spot. This regulation may affect federations unevenly. Federations with strong women's coaching pipelines — Spain, Japan, France — will adapt easily. Emerging football nations, where the women's coaching pipeline is weak, will face short-term staffing pressure.

An uneven playing field, created by a well-intentioned rule.

North Korea is also a fascinating story. Seeded top despite limited international exposure and geopolitical isolation. Their women's youth development system operates on a closed, highly centralized model, producing technically disciplined players. Women's youth football does not mirror the senior rankings.

Takeaway

Look at the candidacy deadline: November 18. Roughly two and a half months from now. No challenger has formally declared. But that silence doesn't mean nobody will emerge.

Victor Montagliani, the CONCACAF President who publicly asked Infantino to stay away from the Dominican Republic event, is mentioned as a possible challenger. Someone who could unite the opposition.

The slow buyer buys joy, the fast buyer buys the future.

The question isn't whether Infantino wins a fourth term in March 2027. The question is: when he wins — if he wins — how much power will he have left to rule? Because in football, as in every power game, the signature is just the last lie that gets recognized.