UEFA voted unanimously Thursday to boycott all FIFA competitions. All 55 member associations backed the decision after an emergency meeting. In it, over 50 nations condemned FIFA president Gianni Infantino's privatization push, while other governing bodies like Concacaf have yet to weigh in.

UEFA Unanimously Rejects FIFA's World Cup Sale

"No UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive," the organization said in a statement.

The UEFA boycott targets Infantino's new subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprises. The entity would hold commercial rights to all FIFA tournaments, with Josh Kushner's Thrive Eternal and JP Morgan selling minority stakes at a $20 billion valuation.

Critics fear outside investors could push to expand tournaments or reshape scheduling to maximize returns, putting more strain on players already stretched thin.

"Investor expectations become a daily pressure," the UEFA statement continued. "From that moment onwards, every decision on the international calendar, every decision on competition formats and every decision shaping the future of football is no longer driven by what best serves the game, but by what best serves shareholders."

Concacaf criticized the lack of consultation surrounding FIFA's plan, but has not committed to a similar walkout. Its 41 nations called their own emergency session for later Thursday.

However, the fallout is guaranteed to hit the women's game first.

UEFA's Boycott Could Impact the 2027 Women’s World Cup

Europe holds 11 of the 32 spots allocated to next summer's 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil. Defending champion Spain, England, France, and Germany would all sit out if the walkout holds.

The boycott's earliest test comes in September, when Poland hosts the Women's U-20 World Cup.

UEFA is preparing to fight FIFA's latest plan to sell stakes in the World Cup, with the women's competition potentially caught in the middle.

On Tuesday, FIFA president Gianni Infantino unveiled a new $20 billion subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise. The entity would hold commercial rights to all FIFA tournaments, including the Women's World Cup.

FIFA Plan to Sell Stakes in the World Cup, Explained

Private investors — among them Thrive Eternal, a venture firm tied to the Kushner family — would purchase minority stakes under the proposal. In exchange, FIFA promises to redistribute more than $10 billion across its 211 member associations. Part of that funding would go toward the women's game.

The fear is that outside investors could push to expand tournaments or hold them more often to maximize returns, putting added strain on players already near their physical limits. The focus on profit generation could also lead to more in-game changes, like the recently-implemented hydration breaks that now double as commercial real estate.

UEFA Threatens World Cup Boycott Over Gianni Infantino Proposal

UEFA isn't waiting to find out. The European governing body declared the sport "is not FIFA's to sell." Its 55-member associations are now set to meet this week to discuss a potential World Cup boycott.

That pressure has worked before. FIFA abandoned a biennial World Cup proposal in 2021 after UEFA raised the same possibility of a walkout. But a boycott could also disrupt future Women's World Cup cycles, including the 2027 tournament in Brazil.

Spain, France, and Denmark are headed to Brazil after Tuesday’s qualifiers. The League A group-leaders joined Germany to claim Europe’s four direct 2027 World Cup bids this week.

Defending champion Spain crushed Iceland 6-1 to finish first in qualifying Group A3 behind a Vicky Lopez brace. Meanwhile, Melvine Malard’s near-halftime heroics lifted France over the Republic of Ireland 1-0 to win Group A2 over the Netherlands. 

Denmark silenced Serbia 4-1 to climb Group A1’s ranks, netting two goals in the first 15 minutes before Amalie Vangsgaard curled in the game-winner. And the already-qualified Germans cemented their A4 dominance by shutting out Slovenia 2-0.

UEFA has 11 tournament slots, with League A’s top finishers earning automatic berths. However, the second- and third-place teams move to a playoff round with lower-league winners.

Playoff-bound 2023 World Cup runner-up and reigning Euros champion England became the week’s biggest surprise, ceding Group A3 to Spain despite beating Ukraine 3-0 behind new Manchester City signing Beth Mead’s 40th international goal.

“I’m happy with the performance but not with the result that we have to go into the playoffs,” Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman said postmatch. “We know what we have to do. I’m very positive that we will qualify anyway.”

The playoff draw is set for June 18th, with the continental showdown kicking off this October.

UEFA is gearing up for the 2027 World Cup, as England and Spain sparred for one of four automatic berths at this week’s Women’s European Qualifiers.

England landed the first blow against reigning champion Spain on Tuesday. The Lionesses defeated their continental rival 1-0 behind a Lauren Hemp strike to sit atop the league stage’s Group A4.

"Against Spain, you need to defend as a team really well, because their individual qualities are so high," said Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman. "We tried to annoy them a little bit and let them make mistakes."

"Everybody knows you can't go toe-to-toe with Spain for possession," added England midfielder Keira Walsh. "Our plan was to sit in a low block and when we had a chance, go forward. They had chances at the end but they're an unbelievable team."

How UEFA Women's European Qualifiers Set the World Cup Field

The Women's European Qualifiers run through December 2026, determining which European teams compete in the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. However, the tournament also impacts promotion and relegation ahead of the UEFA Women's Nations League, kicking off in 2027.

Four-group League A features Europe’s Top 16 teams — with each group’s winner earning a direct path to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

League A’s remaining 12 teams advance to end-of-year playoffs fielding UEFA’s seven additional berths, with second- and third-place finishers facing lower-ranked nations via top seeding.

Tuesday’s other UEFA Qualifying winners include Denmark, the Netherlands, and Germany, with three league-stage matchdays to go.

How to Watch European Teams at UEFA World Cup Qualifiers

UEFA Women's European Qualifiers return on Saturday, as England takes on Iceland at 12:30 PM GMT on ITVX in the UK.

Group A's Saturday lineup also features Denmark vs Italy, France vs Netherlands, and Austria vs Germany. See full schedule at UEFA.com.

As the 2028 LA Olympics come into focus, the FIFA Council unveiled the regional allocations for the Summer Games' first-ever 16-team women's soccer tournament this week.

According to the Council's Wednesday report, 2.5 slots will go to AFC (Asia), 2 to CAF (Africa), 3 to Concacaf (North and Central America), 2.5 to Conmebol (South America), 1 to OFC (Oceania), and 4 to UEFA (Europe), with one additional slot reserved, as always, for the host nation — the reigning Olympic gold medalist USWNT.

While the expanded competition allows for greater depth, one AFC and one Conmebol team will ostensibly have to face an inter-continental playoff to determine which region can send an additional team to the 2028 Olympics.

One the other hand, Concacaf's representation will double from 2024, growing from two to four teams given the automatic berth of the USWNT.

Similarly, after host nation France's autobid boosted UEFA'a 2024 allocation to three teams, this week's new distribution doubles the European confederation's previous non-host two-team max for the LA Games — meaning all four of the 2027 UEFA Nations League semifinalists will qualify to compete for gold in 2028.

Notably, CAF and OFC are the only confederations to not see an increase on their previous allocation from the FIFA Council.

With just one league-phase matchday left, a trio of unbeaten clubs — Barcelona, OL Lyonnes, and Chelsea — stand alone atop the 2025/26 Champions League table, leading the 18-team pack after all three squads notched midweek wins.

No. 1 Barcelona and No. 2 OL Lyonnes each have 13 points, with the Spanish contenders earning the edge over their French counterparts with a +15 goal differential.

Meanwhile, Chelsea sits in third with 11 points following a 6-0 drubbing of No. 17 AS Roma on Wednesday, though the Blues will need a result against No. 7 Wolfsburg next week to secure a spot in March's quarterfinals with a top-four finish.

Though the byes into the quarterfinals are still up for grabs, with just one matchday left before the knockouts, several of Europe's biggest teams have qualified for February's playoffs.

Wolfsburg alongside No. 10 Paris FC, No. 9 Manchester United, No. 8 Arsenal, No. 6 Juventus, No. 5 Real Madrid, and No. 4 Bayern Munich have already racked up enough points to advance out of the league phase.

Three clubs — No. 13 Vålerenga, No. 12 Oud-Heverlee Leuven, and No. 11 Atlético de Madrid — are fighting for the two remaining playoff tickets, with December 17th's simultaneous kickoff set to determine the winners.

How to watch the final 2025/26 Champions League league-phase matches

Determining both the first four UWCL quarterfinalists and the eight teams entering the playoffs, the final league-phase matchday will see all 18 clubs kicking off at 3 PM ET next Wednesday.

All 2025/26 Champions League matches will stream live on Paramount+.

World No. 1 Spain will take aim at a second-straight UEFA Nations League title this week, as La Roja take on No. 5 Germany in the first leg of the 2025 tournament's final at 2:30 PM ET on Friday.

The defending Nations League champions booked their spot in the 2025 final by dismantling No. 3 Sweden 5-0 on aggregate in the semifinal round, while Germany advanced after a tense 3-2 aggregate win over No. 6 France.

Germany must also contend with availability issues during Friday's match, as 28-year-old Bayern Munich forward and senior national team leading scorer Lea Schüller will be out due to family reasons.

To overcome that disadvantage, German head coach Christian Wück is reinforcing the team's back line, adding Athletic Bilbao defender Bibi Schulze Solano to the roster on Wednesday.

Also aiming to shut down Spain's offensive firepower on Friday is new NWSL champion goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who joined her German compatriots late following Gotham FC's title celebrations in New York this week.

While Spain and Germany will contend for the 2025 Nations League trophy this week, the pair — along with ousted semifinalists Sweden and France — have already booked spots in the top group of teams battling for tickets to the 2027 World Cup, with UEFA qualifying set to begin in 2026.

Star England defender Esme Morgan made an impression on her new Washington Spirit teammates even before she set foot on US soil — just by the sound of her voice.

"Looking at Es on social media before she came, I just thought her voice was so angelic," Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury told Just Women's Sports at NWSL Championship Media Day in San Jose. "Even the first weeks, I couldn't even focus on what she was saying — I'm like, 'I am in the presence of the Queen.'"

If the former Manchester City defender wasn't already the NWSL team's quintessential English international, she cemented her prowess after winning a European Championship with the Lionesses earlier this summer. Since joining the Spirit in 2024, the center back has become a player to watch on both sides of the Atlantic, after making a bet on herself by transferring to the notoriously fast-paced NWSL in search of greater responsibility on the pitch.

A die-hard NFL fan with a bubbly personality and loyal TikTok following, Morgan immediately took to life in the US. Her proper British accent belies a fierce competitor on the field. She's a force in the locker room, fusing social connections that greatly contributed to the Spirit reaching a second straight NWSL final. And she's also good for more than a little bit of banter.

"Es is just super entertaining, she's really good at getting under my skin," added Kingsbury with a laugh. "She brings… a lot of sunshine to the locker room, and obviously is just a fun person to play with." 

But it's not all puppies and rainbows. Ceding last year's championship to the Orlando Pride still stings for Morgan. And she's turned that pain into intensity — one that's fueled her and her teammates all the way back to the precipice of NWSL glory.

How Esme Morgan energized Washington Spirit’s team culture

Washington's camaraderie is palpable, something midfielder Hal Hershfelt credits in part to Morgan's readiness to spend time with her teammates off the pitch, no matter the occasion.

"Honestly, she came to the team and we did a lot more team events and stuff like that," she said. "She's so extroverted, willing to get people together, get people grooving."

Morgan recalls a time early in the 2025 preseason, after Spirit captain Andi Sullivan announced she was pregnant with her first child ("the whole team had gone crazy," she remembered). A group of players had ridden their bikes to get ice cream, including recent signing Narumi Miura, who had only been in market for a few days.

"We were all just chatting about [Sullivan], and Rumi goes, 'I love this team!'" Morgan said. "She'd been here four days. We were like, 'Oh my gosh, Rumi, we love you too!' I think that speaks to the environment that we have."

The team's comfort with one another is also evident on the pitch, whether it's Morgan and midfielder Croix Bethune hitting Cam Ward's football celly in front of Audi Field's sold-out home crowd, or the trust permeating the defense as they confront ongoing injuries. 

"We definitely hold each other to high standards," said Kingsbury. "We all really want to win, and we all really want to do well for each other."

Esme Morgan bets on the NWSL to elevate her England career

Morgan arrived in the US on a mission.

She was named to England's World Cup squad in 2023, but spent the tournament on the bench, watching on as an unused substitute as the Lionesses finished second to Spain.

So when she got the opportunity to transfer to the NWSL the following year, proving her national team worth was front of mind. 

"She wanted to take a step forward, knowing that this league would challenge her," said Washington manager Adrián González. "I think she's done an amazing job, especially adapting herself to the type of games we have here."

The defender favors the NWSL's summer schedule, as it allows her to stay in shape for major international tournaments. And as she told JWS earlier this year, the US league's speedy, possession-oriented style has made her a better overall player. Morgan had always been good with the ball at her feet, but her time in Washington has significantly improved her off-ball positioning and ability to go toe-to-toe with the world's best attackers.

Her desire to improve only grew stronger after the Spirit fell short of last year's NWSL title. "That was something that at the time provided a huge fire inside me," she said. "I worked super hard in the off-season, doing things on the pitch that I knew would complement the areas of the game that I wanted to improve."

From Euros glory to NWSL grind: Esme Morgan returns to form

The work is paying off. She played a key role as a reserve center back in the Lionesses's successful UEFA Women's Euro defense this summer, replacing Gotham defender — and 2025 NWSL Championship opponent — Jess Carter in England's hard-fought semifinal victory over Italy. She went on to lift the trophy with her national team teammates, after avenging their World Cup loss against Spain in the European Championship final. 

Winning a major international title accomplished a childhood dream, but Morgan had to quickly re-orient herself after rejoining the Spirit in DC.

"Immediately after the Euros was when I felt the most tired. It was just like a come-down after that high," she reflected. "But I've since rallied and [felt] fresh and ready coming into the last couple of games."

How team love fuels the Washington Spirit's NWSL Championship quest

Heading into tonight's NWSL Championship, Morgan's focus on winning hasn't changed. But the source of her desire has shifted some, a full year after last year's disappointing exit. Washington faced adversity due to injury this season, in many ways mirroring their 2024 arc. But they've also continued to prioritize joy — on and off the pitch.

"We've overcome lots of challenges as a group, but stuck together throughout," Morgan said. "Now my passion and desire to win this weekend comes not from me losing out last year. It comes from the love I have for this group and the desire to win with these girls."

Another thing driving her? A victory tonight would put Morgan in rare company, completing her 2025 trophy case with both an international and league.

"I had the best time in the summer, achieved a lifelong goal. And ever since I've come to the Spirit, I've wanted to win the championship," she said. "It would be the perfect year, really." 

Reigning UEFA Women's Champions League winners Arsenal suffered a setback on Wednesday, falling 3-2 to German side Bayern Munich after a second-half collapse led to three unanswered goals.

The Gunners are now 1-2 in league phase play, landing them in 11th place with three opening-round matches remaining.

"It's not good enough. We don't want to concede three goals in one half in the Champions League," Arsenal manager Renée Slegers said postgame. "It's everything. It's keeping the ball, making better decisions on the ball in their half to keep the ball there for longer, because it was very transitional."

A bright spot for Arsenal came via an opening goal from USWNT defender Emily Fox — one of a few US-centric Champions League boosts this week.

USWNT forward Catarina Macario notched a brace in Chelsea FC's 6-0 drubbing of St. Pölten on Tuesday, a match that also handed USWNT defender Naomi Girma her 2025/26 Champions League debut with the Blues.

Tuesday's clash also saw Chelsea captain Sam Kerr find the back of the net twice, as the Australia standout made her first start in 692 days.

Now halfway through league-phase play, only Barcelona, OL Lyonnes, and Manchester United remain perfect with a trio of wins, with Champions League matches resuming on November 19th.

Europe's top soccer teams have started down their 2027 World Cup paths, with UEFA revealing the field of 2026 European Qualifiers in a Tuesday morning league-stage draw.

Reigning world champion and world No. 1 Spain headlines the results, with La Roja set to face 2023 World Cup runners-up — and newly minted back-to-back Euro champs — No. 4 England in Group A3, while Group A1 pits perennial titans No. 3 Sweden against rising stars No. 12 Italy.

Group A2 will see No. 6 France taking on the No. 11 Netherlands, with No. 5 Germany and No. 13 Norway headlining Group A4.

A total of 11 UEFA teams will clinch spots in the 2027 World Cup via the European Qualifiers, which kick off in March 2026, though one additional UEFA nation will earn the opportunity to try and punch a ticket to the Brazil-hosted tournament via an inter-continental playoff in February 2027.

Based on the 2025 Nations League results, UEFA teams fell into three leagues entering the 2026 qualifiers, with League A and B housing 16 squads each while League C holds 21.

The winners of League A's four groups will directly qualify for the World Cup, while the remaining League A teams along with top finishers from League B and C will move on to a series of playoffs to ultimately determine the seven other direct UEFA qualifiers, plus the inter-confederation play-off contender.

The 2026 UEFA World Cup Qualifiers League A Groups

• Group A1: No. 3 Sweden, No. 12 Italy, No. 14 Denmark, No. 35 Serbia

• Group A2: No. 6 France, No. 11 Netherlands, No. 26 Poland, No. 27 Republic of Ireland

• Group A3: No. 1 Spain, No. 4 England, No. 17 Iceland, No. 34 Ukraine

• Group A4: No. 5 Germany, No. 13 Norway, No. 19 Austria, No. 38 Slovenia