… Concacaf, which governs football in North and Central America and the Caribbean – and hosted this summer’s World Cup – said its members “rejected” the proposal, with sources saying the vast majority of associations from the region are losing, or have lost, faith in Infantino. …
… Concacaf, which governs football in North and Central America and the Caribbean – and hosted this summer’s World Cup – said its members “rejected” the proposal, with sources saying the vast majority of associations from the region are losing, or have lost, faith in Infantino. …
… CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have also questioned the decision to make the proposal public before consulting all 211 FIFA member associations. …
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) says it “stands in solidarity” with Uefa and Concacaf in opposition to Fifa’s proposal to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors. …
… Concacaf, which covers North and Central America and hosted this year’s World Cup, said in a statement: “We are deeply concerned by the lack of due process. …
… Victor Montagliani, president of the governing body for football in North and Central America and the Caribbean (Concacaf), said the suggestion “doesn’t feel right” and he believes the expansion would damage “the broader football ecosystem”. …
Kenny Jean-Marie, former FIFA Chief Member Associations Officer, has joined the Advisory Board of African Collaborations Group (ACG), a platform for developing sport and entertainment district projects across Africa. His appointment is intended to strengthen ACG's expertise in sport governance and infrastructure development.
Kenny Jean-Marie, former FIFA Chief Member Associations Officer, has joined the Advisory Board of African Collaborations Group (ACG), a platform for developing sport and entertainment district projects across Africa. His appointment is intended to strengthen ACG's expertise in sport governance and infrastructure development.
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.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has reconfirmed his intention to seek re-election in March 2027, despite facing calls to resign from UEFA, the AFC, and CONCACAF following the failed attempt to sell a 20 per cent stake in FIFA competitions to private investors in July. Infantino retains support from the African and South American confederations.
FIFA says president Gianni Infantino, who has led the organization since 2016, will stand for re-election in March 2027. His announcement follows backlash over a scrapped plan to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investors, which prompted UEFA and several European football associations to threaten boycotts.
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.
UEFA has withdrawn its threat to boycott FIFA competitions after securing a guarantee that the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan will not be revived, but will pursue efforts to remove FIFA president Gianni Infantino by supporting a challenger when he stands for re-election in March. UEFA considers the race likely to be close, with 106 of 211 member associations needed for election, and has not abandoned hopes despite deciding against pursuing a no-confidence vote.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Three football confederations have issued a joint letter criticising FIFA President Gianni Infantino over his failed proposal to bring private investment into FIFA competitions, stating that "football belongs to no individual" and calling for an independent review into the stake sale proposal.
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.
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.
UEFA says European teams could still boycott competitions including the World Cup, as the governing body maintains its conditions have not been met despite Infantino's scrapped plan to sell World Cup stakes to private investors. The English FA has withdrawn support for Infantino, and UEFA says it has lost confidence in his presidency.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino apologised for "errors" in controversial proposals to sell stakes in competitions to private investors, but retained his position after receiving backing from FIFA's management board at a meeting in Morocco. UEFA and others had criticised the Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal as opaque, but Infantino and secretary general Mattias Grafstrom sent a letter to FIFA members sincerely apologising and committing that such errors "will not happen again."
Leading African football administrators have expressed support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino ahead of his bid for re-election in March, even as administrators in Asia, Europe, and CONCACAF have said they lost confidence in his leadership following his abandoned plan to raise $4.2 billion from a new commercial rights body.
The English Football Association is set to withdraw support from Fifa president Gianni Infantino following fallout from his scrapped plans to sell stakes in Fifa competitions to private investors. The move comes as Uefa threatens legal action and Wales withdraws backing for Infantino's bid to remain Fifa president.
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.
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.
Football administrator Eric Alagidede has opposed FIFA's proposal to sell stakes in World Cup competitions to private investors through a new commercial subsidiary, arguing that excessive commercialization could make the sport unaffordable for ordinary fans and that funds may not be used as intended.
Football administrator Eric Alagidede has urged the Ghana Football Association to reject FIFA's plans to sell stakes in World Cup competitions to private investors, warning that the proposal could lead to over-commercialisation of football and make it expensive for fans to watch.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
After the first round of Group Stages, smaller nations have performed better than expected, with Cape Verde holding Spain to a goalless draw, suggesting the tournament expansion from 32 to 48 teams may have justified itself despite initial concerns.