FIFA Faces Crisis Amid Infantino’s Failed World Cup Stake Plans
FIFA issued an apology on Wednesday for mistakes made in Gianni Infantino’s unsuccessful plan to sell stakes in the World Cup. Senior staff members at a crisis meeting in Morocco confirmed their support for Infantino’s presidency. Despite the controversy, FIFA aimed to show unity as calls for Infantino’s resignation surfaced.
In a statement, FIFA revealed that Secretary General Mattias Grafström and management board members present in Rabat were backing the troubled president. The plan to sell World Cup profits through FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) was acknowledged as flawed. A letter apologizing for these errors was sent to the FIFA Council and member associations, promising to avoid similar issues in the future. Grafström’s support was notable after he had distanced himself from Infantino’s plans, describing recent events as “sad and reproachable.” Infantino also reaffirmed his support for Grafström.
FIFA declared that the FFE proposal is now off the table, acknowledging the necessity of learning from the experience to enhance its processes. Whether this meeting will mitigate pressure on Infantino remains uncertain.
Serious questions
On the same day, the association of European soccer leagues, which includes the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A, called for governance reform within FIFA. They labeled the FFE proposal as “dangerous,” indicating broader issues in FIFA’s governance, internal culture, and decision-making. They asserted that FIFA needs governance reform involving all stakeholders in decisions affecting the game’s future.
The European Leagues criticized potential plans to expand the World Cup to 64 teams, stating FIFA must not make unilateral decisions. They vowed to reject new or expanded FIFA competitions until reforms are implemented.
Portugal and Real Madrid legend Luis Figo also urged Infantino to step down, claiming he had “debased the office.”
FIFA refuted claims from British media suggesting Infantino promised Morocco the hosting of the 2030 World Cup final in exchange for support. The co-hosts for the 2030 edition are Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. Morocco aspires to host the final at the future 115,000-seat King Hassan II Stadium near Casablanca.
A FIFA spokesperson declared that it was “false and misleading” to suggest that the FIFA president made any promises about the 2030 World Cup final hosting. A decision regarding the final venue will be made later.
Canada’s Carney raises concerns
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also expressed loss of confidence in Infantino, citing a “fatal” governance failure due to Infantino not consulting senior advisers. Carney criticized Infantino’s actions, despite having appeared alongside him during the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
The tumultuous week has stirred questions regarding Infantino’s leadership ahead of the March elections. UEFA exerted considerable pressure by threatening to boycott the World Cup if Infantino persisted with FFE. Despite Infantino retracting the proposal, UEFA declared its lost confidence in FIFA’s leadership, possibly hinting at a challenge to Infantino’s presidency. CONCACAF also criticized FIFA’s leadership, claiming it had “stopped putting football first.”
Divisions within FIFA surfaced, with chief of global football development Arsène Wenger distancing himself from the FFE plans. Infantino’s senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned, and chief operating officer Kevin Lamour expressed feelings of being “deceived” by Infantino’s lack of transparency. Infantino aims for a fourth and final term in the March elections.