Two Women Lead Resistance Against World Cup Sellout by
August 11, 2026 ·
Lise Klaveness and Laura McAllister played key roles in opposing FIFA's plans to sell stakes in major competitions, highlighting the importance of female leadership in football governance.
Two Women Lead Resistance Against World Cup Sellout by
Why this is important
The resistance led by Lise Klaveness and Laura McAllister to FIFA's plans to sell the World Cup shows the importance of women's involvement in decision-making in international football. This is not just about female leadership, but also about the future integrity of major competitions such as the FIFA Men's World Cup and FIFA Women's World Cup. This action has the potential to change the way football governance is viewed and encourage more participation of women in leadership positions.
Main Points
- Two Women Lead Resistance Against World Cup Sellout by.
- Lise Klaveness and Laura McAllister played key roles in opposing FIFA's plans to sell stakes in major competitions, highlighting the importance of female leadership in football governance.
- Two women lead the resistance to Infantino's World Cup sell-off. That matters - The Athletic.
However, let's be honest, that kind of thinking is very wrong. There is irony in two women leading the fight against a World Cup sellout, given how football has historically and systematically kept women out of reach — whether on the pitch, on the sidelines or in the boardroom. According to several sources kept confidential to protect relations, only Ceferin has been more vocal about the need for seismic action than McAllister and Klaveness. That's important.
Of the lessons to be learned from FIFA's proposals and the ensuing tensions with federations, one that will not make the headlines is the increasing importance of having women in decision-making positions, particularly women with a background in football. McAllister and Klaveness are not the only powerful executives. They are respected former international players (from Wales and Norway) who know the sport well. Their playing experience has helped them gain respect and authority in football governance and leadership during their time at UEFA, especially regarding the principles and ethics that should be the basis of the game.
McAllister and Klaveness represented their country at a time when their country barely represented them. McAllister was one of three women who lobbied the Welsh FA to officially recognize a women's national team in 1992. Klaveness' playing career spanned 14 years, earning 73 caps and taking part in the Euro 2005 final. McAllister went on to academia and governance after her playing career, while Klaveness studied law, things driven by passion and necessity, as football outside of playing was not an available route. However, the two eventually found their way back to the sport.
In March 2022, Klaveness was elected president of the NFF, becoming the first woman to lead in the organization's 120-year history. McAllister became the first Welshman to win a seat on UEFA's executive committee in 2023, taking the only seat designated for a woman on the 21-member body. Two years later, McAllister succeeded in expanding the number of seats designated for women on UEFA's executive committee to two. Klaveness took the chair. This all seems easy, like a Wikipedia timeline of accomplishments that conveniently ignores the challenges faced as a woman living in a male-dominated world.
According to several sources, many within UEFA and FIFA initially found Klaveness's confrontational style challenging, which may explain why when she ran for a non-designated seat for women on UEFA's executive committee in 2023, she lost. Klaveness has challenged the moral issues faced by World Cup hosts Qatar (2022), the United States (2026, along with Mexico and Canada), and Saudi Arabia (2034). He called for an investigation into Israel — whom Norway was drawn against in World Cup qualifying — stating that the NFF could not remain indifferent to the civilian casualties in Gaza during the recent conflict. In April 2026, he also called for the removal of the FIFA Peace Prize that Infantino awarded to President Donald Trump.
McAllister also doesn't shy away from speaking out on uncomfortable matters, whether defending LGBTQ+ rights in Qatar, fighting for more female representation at UEFA, or criticizing corrupt ethics in the game. These demands certainly attract enemies. However, over the past two years, as football grapples with various moral dilemmas, McAllister and Klaveness have been recognized as an ethical compass. Following the announcement of the UEFA boycott, it was striking that Klaveness and McAllister were the main figures speaking to the media, openly criticizing FIFA for "economic blackmail".
In one sense, McAllister and Klaveness have everything and have nothing to lose. The convenience of never being invited into the old boys' club is that they are not forced to act according to unwritten laws, tacit agreements, or subtle politics. So, at a time when football is caught in the grip of one man's greed, when many within UEFA and FIFA have no idea who knows these grand plans, who else can be trusted but those who have always walked a striking line?
What all this means for the future of women in football governance remains to be seen. When The Athletic raised the idea that either Klaveness or McAllister might be put forward for a higher leadership position, the response from a source close to both women was clear: "Football is not ready for that." However, many within UEFA and FIFA hope this latest episode will once again demonstrate the importance of having competent women in decision-making positions in football's most powerful corridors. There is irony that, six months ago, Infantino asked McAllister during a dinner at the UEFA congress in Brussels what he would say on the stage he would take the next day if he had the chance. The lack of women in significant positions in football, he said, seemed a good place to start. "Isn't that right?" Infantino said to his predominantly male audience the next day. "Of course, we need more women in important positions in football." It was an extraordinary show of courage from the most powerful man in football, complaining about the system he had presided over. Of the 37 places on FIFA's board — the organization's main decision-making body — eight are held by women. Six of the eight are the result of a legal requirement requiring each of the six continental confederations to have at least one female representative, a reform announced at the FIFA congress in February 2016 to increase the number of women in football's top positions. FIFA did not elect women to their board until 2013, when Burundi's Lydia Nsekera broke 109 years of crystallized order. Although 83 percent of football associations now have at least one woman on their executive committee, an increase from 64 percent in 2019, only 10 of FIFA's 211 member associations are led by female presidents. Of the 21 members of UEFA's executive committee, only two seats are designated for women. No seat not designated for women has been occupied by a woman. McAllister and Klaveness would be the first to admit that meaningful change is a slow process, an act of patience and perseverance. But sometimes, it's also about daring to stand out on the fence. Out of necessity. Out of obligation. Because of the familiar knowledge — shared with many women in football who have gone before them — that this is the right thing to do, not the easy thing to do.
What happened next
With calls for a complete boycott of FIFA competitions, the next steps may involve further discussions at UEFA level and among national football associations. If support for this boycott continues to grow, we may see significant changes in the way FIFA manages major competitions, including the FIFA Club World Cup. This could also pave the way for more initiatives supporting gender equality in football.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the UEFA emergency meeting?
Laura McAllister demands a complete boycott of FIFA competitions
Who confirmed the call for a boycott of FIFA?
Laura McAllister, UEFA vice president, confirmed the call.
Why are there now calls for a boycott of FIFA?
There is a perception that FIFA poses an existential threat to the future of football.
What changes are proposed by Laura McAllister and Lise Klaveness?
They proposed a total boycott of global football's governing body.
What is the role of women in this meeting?
Two women, Laura McAllister and Lise Klaveness, are leading the fight against World Cup sales.
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