Calls Grow For Gianni Infantino To Quit After Failed World Cup Rights Plan

Gianni Infantino still under pressure 

Infantino apologises as FIFA faces revolt over abandoned commercial deal. Infantino power base tested as FIFA Confederations turn against him.

Infantino under fire following abandoned $4.2bn World Cup plan...

Pressure on FIFA President Gianni Infantino keeps growing after he scrapped a controversial World Cup proposal.

The fallout intensified on Tuesday as key figures openly distanced themselves from the plan to sell a stake in the World Cup, with FIFA rushing to limit the damage. 

Following three days of open infighting in soccer’s leadership last week, Infantino dropped the idea late Friday. The proposal would have raised $4.2 billion through a new body to manage commercial rights.

The 56-year-old said sorry for how the proposal had split football. It would have been the first time private investment went into the World Cup. But the apology didn’t stop his once untouchable grip on power at FIFA from cracking.

FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom emailed staff calling it a “sad and reproachable series of events” that forced the project to be “permanently abandoned,” according to two sources.

“We have all been thrown into the middle of ‌a turmoil, which is difficult to comprehend and accept,” Grafstrom wrote in the letter without mentioning Infantino by name.

“But, as ‌Secretary General, I urge you to remain focused on what has always united us: serving football and serving our 211 Member Associations, hand in hand with all relevant stakeholders and in full compliance with the FIFA Statutes and FIFA Regulations.

“Individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go. The institution, its mission and its responsibility towards ‌world football continue, and that is why we should always keep our professionalism, sense ⁠of perspective and composure.”

Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development and technical adviser to IFAB, said he had no part in the proposal and only found out about it from news reports.

“The decision to withdraw the project was absolutely necessary and beyond question, because I firmly believe in an independent FIFA that serves our game with commitment, transparency, and integrity,” Wenger said in a statement.

Calls Grow For Infantino To Step Down

Reports claimed three regional confederations had joined forces in an attempt to push Infantino out of the FIFA presidency.

Five European FAs, including the English FA, have officially pulled their support for his re-election at the FIFA Congress in Morocco next March. Denmark’s FA added it never planned to back him at all.

Meanwhile, the federations of Morocco, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon and Sri Lanka have all publicly backed the Swiss-Italian. Infantino has led FIFA since 2016 and is aiming to remain in charge until 2031.

Infantino has tried to improve his image by reposting statements supporting him on Instagram. At the same time, FIFA called a report claiming he asked the Donald Trump administration for help to stay in power “pure fiction.”

Only a few of FIFA’s 211 member federations have publicly stated their position so far ahead of the Congress vote. But by catching key stakeholders off guard with the proposal, Infantino has clearly cost himself support within the regional confederations.

UEFA, Europe’s powerful confederation, and CONCACAF, which governs football in North and Central America and the Caribbean, both released strong statements on Saturday saying they no longer have confidence in his leadership.

The AFC, which is usually loyal to FIFA, stopped short of direct criticism but said FIFA needs institutional reform. It called the lack of consultation over the proposal “totally unacceptable.”

A report in the _Times of London_ on Monday claimed UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC are set on forcing Infantino out. According to the report, they plan to paralyse FIFA and even launch their own competitions if he refuses to step down.

CONCACAF, the AFC and FIFA had not responded to a request for comment on the report by publication time. UEFA said it had no comment.

UEFA confirmed it sent FIFA a “document preservation letter” demanding all material related to Infantino’s plan be kept. The confederation is still deciding whether to take legal action over it.

Infantino’s Grip On FIFA Faces Major Challenge

Infantino’s first priority will be stopping an Extraordinary Congress from being called. That would happen if 43 or more FIFA member associations submit a formal written request.

After that, he has seven months to repair ties with allies and strengthen his position ahead of any potential challengers.

🚨 FIFA chief Mattias Grafstrom tells staff that “individuals + unfortunate episodes come & go” as pressure mounts on Gianni Infantino. Adds: “sad & reproachable series of events… thankfully concluded with FFE project permanently abandoned” @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/zmVqMfDaSh

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) August 4, 2026

Like former presidents Joao Havelange and Sepp Blatter, Infantino built his power base outside Europe. Many of those less wealthy associations depend on funding from FIFA.

The controversial proposal was presented directly to those associations, with the promise of a $20 million to $40 million payout at the start of next year for every national body that supported it.

Infantino’s opponents now have to find a candidate before the November 18 deadline for FIFA election nominations. That candidate would need to appeal to those same associations, while also winning over the richer federations in football’s traditional strongholds.