Asian Football Confederation — regional football governing body that opposed FIFA president Infantino's plan to sell stakes in competitions to private investors.
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Joy Online
… Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa agreed, saying further expansion would bring “chaos”. …
Infantino opens door to 64-team World CupFrance's Football Federation joined England, Italy, and four other European nations in withdrawing support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino after his failed plan to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investors. The FFF said Infantino's governance does not meet football's standards, despite his abandonment of the investment proposal.
11 September 2026 · Joy Online →
France's Football Federation joined England, Italy, and four other European nations in withdrawing support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino after his failed plan to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investors. The FFF said Infantino's governance does not meet football's standards, despite his abandonment of the investment proposal.
11 September 2026 · Joy Online →
UEFA has applied for access to evidence and documents for criminal proceedings in Switzerland against FIFA president Gianni Infantino, accusing him of "criminal mismanagement" over a now-scrapped plan to sell stakes in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors. UEFA also says it is considering pursuing criminal action against other FIFA officials.
28 August 2026 · Joy Online →
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has ruled out standing for FIFA president in March 2027, though he expects another candidate to challenge Gianni Infantino following widespread opposition to the latter's now-scrapped plan to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investors.
25 August 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
FIFA announced that Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour has left the organisation weeks after publicly criticising Gianni Infantino's plan to sell a stake in World Cup and tournament commercial rights. Lamour said FIFA staff had been "deceived" over the proposal and described it as "the project of one person," while a senior adviser to Infantino also resigned in protest before Infantino withdrew the plan.
19 August 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Fifa has dismissed chief operating officer Kevin Lamour following his public criticism of president Gianni Infantino over a plan to sell stakes in competitions to private investors. Uefa vice-president Laura McAllister has criticized the dismissal as sending a "deeply troubling message" to those seeking change in football governance.
19 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Premier League chief Richard Masters has criticised FIFA president Gianni Infantino's now-abandoned plan to create a company managing World Cup commercial and ticketing rights with 21% sold to private investors, calling it a "self-inflicted wound." Masters backed the FA's withdrawal of support for Infantino and called for a new unity candidate for FIFA president.
18 August 2026 · Joy Online →
New Zealand has become the latest nation to withdraw support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino's re-election bid, joining England, Wales, Norway, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The withdrawal follows Infantino's aborted plans to sell 20% of the World Cup's commercial rights to private investors, and New Zealand is also seeking an independent review of the FIFA Forward Enterprise Scheme.
14 August 2026 · Joy Online →
The Football Association of Ireland has officially withdrawn support for Fifa president Gianni Infantino, while the Irish Football Association backs Uefa's stance. The move follows Uefa, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation accusing Infantino of breaking trust through deception over a failed attempt to sell a stake in Fifa's commercial operations.
13 August 2026 · Joy Online →
US President Donald Trump said it would be a "terrible mistake" to remove Fifa president Gianni Infantino, whose position has come under pressure following accusations from Uefa, Concacaf and the AFC that he broke trust through deception with a failed Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal.
11 August 2026 · Joy Online →
US President Donald Trump says it would be a "terrible mistake" to remove FIFA president Gianni Infantino, whose position has come under pressure following UEFA, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation's open letter accusing him of breaking trust through his aborted FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal to sell 21% of commercial and ticketing rights to a private investment company.
11 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Norway's Football Federation has called on FIFA president Gianni Infantino to resign, citing lack of institutional trust and concerns over World Cup privatization, tournament awards, and other governance issues. Mexico and Argentina have voiced their support for the 56-year-old, while England, Wales, Croatia, and Albania have withdrawn support without explicitly demanding his resignation.
7 August 2026 · Joy Online →
UEFA says it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino's FIFA leadership following the withdrawal of a controversial plan to sell stakes in the governing body's competitions to private investors. UEFA had previously voted to boycott World Cups if the plans proceeded, and other governing bodies also opposed the proposal.
1 August 2026 · Joy Online →
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has scrapped a controversial proposal to sell stakes in the governing body's major competitions, including the World Cups, citing divisions it had created. The plan had offered all 211 member associations $40m each to back private investment in tournaments, but faced widespread opposition from UEFA, Concacaf, and the AFC.
31 July 2026 · Joy Online →
The Confederation of African Football will review FIFA's proposal to establish a commercial subsidiary to manage the World Cup and other flagship tournaments, through which FIFA aims to raise $4.2 billion by selling minority stakes valued at $20 billion. If approved, each of FIFA's 211 member associations would receive a one-off payment of $20 million in early 2027 and increased annual development funding from $8 million to $20 million per association, though the plan has faced opposition from UEFA and European officials over commercialisation concerns.
31 July 2026 · Daily Guide →
FIFA president Gianni Infantino's senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned after the Asian Football Confederation joined European and North/Central American bodies in opposing a plan to sell stakes in competitions to private investors. Cordeiro called the proposal "a bad deal for football" that would "mortgage football's future," and the AFC warned the plan lacks the broad consensus needed and risks undermining the unity of the FIFA World Cup.
31 July 2026 · Joy Online →
The Asian Football Confederation said it stands in solidarity with Uefa and Concacaf against Fifa's proposal to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors, arguing the plan cannot achieve the necessary consensus and risks undermining the unity of the World Cup.
31 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Football's world governing body announced plans to create a commercial subsidiary to run major events like the World Cup and Club World Cup, allowing private minority investors to acquire stakes. The proposal aims to raise up to $4.2 billion and would provide each of FIFA's 211 member associations with a $20 million one-off payment in early 2027 and increased annual funding, though UEFA, European federations, EU officials, CONCACAF, and AFC have raised concerns over commercialisation, conflicts of interest, and consultation processes.
31 July 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
FIFA plans to secure up to $4.2bn in private investment by October for a new World Cup spinoff subsidiary (FIFA Forward Enterprise), even as President Infantino claims a consultation process has only just begun. The move has drawn criticism from UEFA and others, who say the rushed process lacks consultation with football associations and crosses a line by partly selling off the governing body's revenue-generating operations.
30 July 2026 · Joy Online →
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has written to 211 member associations offering $40m if they back his plan to sell stakes in major competitions, including the World Cup, with a 19 September deadline for access to an initial $20m. UEFA accused FIFA of using football to enrich themselves and their friends.
30 July 2026 · Joy Online →
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has written to all 211 member associations offering $40m in exchange for backing his plan to sell stakes in major competitions like the World Cup through a new commercial subsidiary. The plan, which could raise $10bn and has drawn quick condemnation from multiple regions, sets a 19 September deadline for nations to accept and receive an initial $20m.
29 July 2026 · Joy Online →
FIFA boss Gianni Infantino said plans to expand the World Cup to 64 teams will be examined after the 2026 tournament, citing the success of the expanded 48-team format. Infantino stated that expanding the tournament ensures it is "for the whole world" and gives smaller nations incentive to improve.
12 July 2026 · Joy Online →