STORY: FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended the opening match of the Under-20 Women's World Cup in Katowice on Saturday (September 5), but kept mum on whether he regrets his abandoned proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup or plans to seek re-election next year.

The women's Under-20 World Cup is the first tournament organised by world soccer's ruling body since the Swiss administrator called off the plan, which valued the commercial rights of the World Cup and other FIFA tournaments at $20 billion.

The proposal was abandoned in late July in the face of a fierce backlash from regional governing bodies including Europe's UEFA and major stakeholders in the sport.

"I'm very happy to be here in beautiful Poland, in Katowice, a fantastic city for this Under-20 FIFA Women's World Cup. It's great," Infantino said at the opener between hosts Poland and Argentina.

"This is what we do, this is about giving opportunities, giving chances to teams, to players, to talents from all over the world, increasing number of participants."

However, Infantino did not answer questions on whether he regretted the last six weeks after introducing the doomed proposal and if he was standing for re-election.

"You know, there will be a lot to say, but there will be a right place and a right time to say this. It's not today. It's not here. But, here today we are enjoying football," he added.

On Thursday (September 3), FIFA accused UEFA of launching a smear campaign and argued that its opposition to the sell off was motivated by a desire to preserve European football's dominance.

In an indication that Infantino will fight March's election on the basis that he is best placed to continue to spread wealth to poorer nations, he also said he was "working to give every corner of the world a chance, an opportunity for dignity, to find ways and means for them to become better and to participate and to celebrate football."

Infantino was in Katowice with senior members of FIFA including Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom, referring chief Pierluigi Collina and members of the FIFA Management Board Elkhan Mammadov and Bryan Swanson.

Infantino arrived shortly after the President of the Polish Football Association Cezary Kulesca.

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, who had previously ruled out running against Infantino, did not attend the opener.

Some 15,000 people are expected to attend the first two matches on Saturday. Poland face Argentina and Mexico play Benin in Katowice on the opening day.

The event is an important development tournament in the women's game, with many of the players hoping to feature at the senior Women's World Cup in Brazil next year.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: KATOWICE, POLAND (SEPTEMBER 5, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. CAR CARRYING FIFA PRESIDENT GIANNI INFANTINO ARRIVING AT KATOWICE ARENA FOR UNDER-20 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP OPENING MATCH

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA PRESIDENT GIANNI INFANTINO SAYING;

"I'm very happy to be here. I am happy to be here in beautiful Poland. In Katowice, a fantastic city for this Under-20 FIFA Women's World Cup. It's great. This is what we do. This is about giving opportunities, giving chances to teams, to players, to talents from all over the world, increasing number of participants. That's what we do. For all the rest, you know there will be a lot to say, but there will be a right place and a right time to say this. It's not today. It's not here. But, here today we are enjoying football. We are continuing at FIFA, of course, to work to give every corner of the world a chance, an opportunity and dignity, to find ways and means for them to become better and to participate and to celebrate football."

3. REPORTERS ASKING IF HE WILL STAND FOR RE-ELECTION / IF HE REGRETS LAST SIX WEEKS / IF HE WILL APOLOGISE TO FOOTBALL FANS

4. INFANTINO DECLINES TO ANSWER / WALKS OFF / REPORTER SHOUTING QUESTIONS

5. PRESIDENT OF POLISH FOOTBALL FEDERATION CEZARY KULESCA ARRIVING

6. FIFA'S HEAD OF REFEREEING PIERLUIGI COLLINA ARRIVING