FIFA Faces Internal Controversy Over World Cup Stake Sale Plan

FIFA has issued an apology following the backlash over Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in the World Cup. During a crisis meeting in Morocco, senior staff expressed their unwavering support for Infantino’s leadership despite calls for him to resign. This move aimed to show a united front amidst the ongoing controversy.

In a statement, FIFA mentioned that Secretary General Mattias Grafström, along with the management board present in Rabat, stood by the besieged president. Acknowledging errors in handling the commercial subsidiary venture known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), FIFA admitted, “mistakes made were acknowledged” and committed to doing things differently in the future. A letter expressing apologies was sent to the FIFA Council and member associations, promising to prevent such errors in the future.

Grafström’s support is noteworthy as he had distanced himself from Infantino’s discarded plans via an email to all FIFA staff, describing the events as “sad and reproachable.” FIFA confirmed that Infantino also reasserted his backing of his secretary general. The FFE proposal has been removed, with FIFA committed to learning from this incident to enhance its processes.

“There are always lessons to be learned, and FIFA will continue to improve its processes in light of this experience,” it stated.

There is uncertainty about whether this meeting will alleviate pressure on Infantino. Earlier, European soccer leagues, including the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A, demanded FIFA governance reform. The leagues labeled the FFE proposal as “dangerous” and cited significant concerns with FIFA’s governance, culture, and decision-making procedures. They urged for an inclusive governance reform that involves all relevant stakeholders in shaping the future of soccer.

European Leagues criticized potential plans to expand the World Cup to 64 teams, insisting FIFA should not enact such disruptive decisions without wider agreement. They pledged to reject any expansion or creation of FIFA competitions until reforms occur.

Portugal and Real Madrid legend Luis Figo also called for Infantino to step down, accusing him of lowering the office’s standards. In response to reports concerning the 2030 World Cup final’s venue, FIFA denied Infantino had promised Morocco to host it. The decision regarding the 2030 final will be announced in due course, according to a FIFA spokesperson.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his loss of confidence in Infantino, citing a governance failure due to lack of consultation with senior advisers. Despite appearing with Infantino at World Cup events in 2026, Carney declared his dissension.

The tumultuous developments have cast doubts on Infantino’s FIFA leadership ahead of the upcoming elections in March. UEFA has ramped up pressure, threatening to boycott the World Cup over the FFE plans. Although Infantino retracted the proposal, UEFA’s confidence in FIFA’s leadership remains shaken, potentially challenging his presidency.

CONCACAF, covering North, Central American and Caribbean soccer, criticized FIFA’s leadership for deviating from prioritizing soccer. Signs of discord within FIFA include global football development chief Arsène Wenger separating from the FFE plans, while Infantino’s senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned, and Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour cited the president’s lack of transparency in communication.