UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin has said he is "not interested" in replacing Gianni Infantino, but has warned the under-fire FIFA president must either quit or face a leadership challenge in March. Infantino has come under increasing pressure to step down as the head of world football's global governing body over his now abandoned plan to secure private investment in FIFA tournaments, including the men's and women's World Cups.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/viva-la-france-alex-lanier-makes-history-with-maiden-title-at-bwf-world-championships-1787492134542">Viva la France! Alex Lanier makes history with maiden title at BWF World C'ships</a>Meanwhile UEFA, which oversees the running of European football, has threatened a boycott of FIFA competitions, with several continental and national federations also withdrawing their support for Infantino.But Ceferin ruled himself out of a bid to take Infantino's place as the chief of world football, the 58-year-old Slovenian on Monday telling The Rest is Politics podcast: "I'm not interested because of two reasons. One reason is that I love UEFA and I love working here, and I think that at a certain point... it's time to also enjoy life a bit."And the second point is, my credibility is much, much higher if I'm not interested in the position."Ceferin has been vocal in his criticism since Infantino revealed his controversial plans to seek private investment in a company to run FIFA tournaments.He now believes Infantino's previously impregnable position is under threat, with Ceferin forecasting he will have to stand down or face a leadership challenge if he seeks re-election at the next FIFA Congress in Morocco in March 2027.Infantino, a former UEFA secretary general, had the broad backing of European nations when he succeeded Sepp Blatter as FIFA president in 2016.But Ceferin, who revealed he has not spoken to Infantino since the start of the controversy, insisted the current situation was very different."There are two options," he said. "One option is that he (Infantino) realises that he doesn't have the support, and that's not only a political support of the ones who vote, but the political support of football community, the political support of fans, the political support of the players, former players, coaches."And the second option that he goes to the elections in March, but in that case, I think he will have a candidate against him. I don't know yet who."CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani and AFC boss Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa are considered two of the most likely challengers for Infantino's position.

UEFA, which oversees the running of European football, has threatened a boycott of FIFA competitions, with several continental and national federations also withdrawing their support for Infantino.

UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin has said he is "not interested" in replacing Gianni Infantino, but has warned the under-fire FIFA president must either quit or face a leadership challenge in March. Infantino has come under increasing pressure to step down as the head of world football's global governing body over his now abandoned plan to secure private investment in FIFA tournaments, including the men's and women's World Cups. Also Read - Viva la France! Alex Lanier makes history with maiden title at BWF World C'ships Meanwhile UEFA, which oversees the running of European football, has threatened a boycott of FIFA competitions, with several continental and national federations also withdrawing their support for Infantino. But Ceferin ruled himself out of a bid to take Infantino's place as the chief of world football, the 58-year-old Slovenian on Monday telling The Rest is Politics podcast: "I'm not interested because of two reasons. One reason is that I love UEFA and I love working here, and I think that at a certain point... it's time to also enjoy life a bit. "And the second point is, my credibility is much, much higher if I'm not interested in the position." Ceferin has been vocal in his criticism since Infantino revealed his controversial plans to seek private investment in a company to run FIFA tournaments. He now believes Infantino's previously impregnable position is under threat, with Ceferin forecasting he will have to stand down or face a leadership challenge if he seeks re-election at the next FIFA Congress in Morocco in March 2027. Infantino, a former UEFA secretary general, had the broad backing of European nations when he succeeded Sepp Blatter as FIFA president in 2016. But Ceferin, who revealed he has not spoken to Infantino since the start of the controversy, insisted the current situation was very different. "There are two options," he said. "One option is that he (Infantino) realises that he doesn't have the support, and that's not only a political support of the ones who vote, but the political support of football community, the political support of fans, the political support of the players, former players, coaches. "And the second option that he goes to the elections in March, but in that case, I think he will have a candidate against him. I don't know yet who." CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani and AFC boss Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa are considered two of the most likely challengers for Infantino's position.

UEFA, which oversees the running of European football, has threatened a boycott of FIFA competitions, with several continental and national federations also withdrawing their support for Infantino.

UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin 'not interested' in replacing FIFA chief Gianni Infantino

In today’s top headlines, Israel-Syria tensions are back in focus after reports of a meeting between Israeli and Syrian officials aimed at easing tensions following Israel’s recent strike on a Syrian air base.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has also fired a fresh salvo at U.S. President Donald Trump, saying Iran is not Venezuela as Tehran faces what it describes as a full-scale military and economic confrontation.

In North America, the U.S.-Canada trade dispute is escalating, with the U.S. transport secretary dismissing Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s threat of retaliatory tariffs and warning that Canada could suffer significant economic consequences.

The cricket world has united in an appeal to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Twenty-one international cricket icons, including Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Alan Border, Clive Lloyd and Alastair Cook, have called for court-monitored medical care for former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

India has announced another major milestone in its space programme. ISRO Chairman Dr. V Narayanan says the first module of India’s planned space station has already been approved, with the country aiming to establish its own space station by 2035.

Meanwhile, FIFA is facing a growing governance challenge. Six Nordic football associations have reportedly joined other European associations in expressing a loss of confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino and demanding sweeping reforms within football’s governing body.

Israel-Syria Tensions | Iran Warns Trump | Imran Khan Appeal, | India Space Station | FIFA Crisis

A FIFA vice-president has withdrawn his support for world football body president Gianni Infantino, saying the “unexpected dismissal” of Kevin Lamour was the “final straw”.Frenchman Lamour was FIFA’s chief operating officer, but his position became difficult after he criticised Infantino last month and spoke out against his now-rejected plan to allow private investment in World Cups.&nbsp;In a letter sent to Infantino on Tuesday, FIFA vice-president and council member Sandor Csanyi of Hungary said Infantino had “lost the confidence I previously placed in you”.&nbsp;Csanyi, a billionaire businessman, banker and head of the Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ), said, “My conviction that you are capable of continuing to lead FIFA successfully and effectively in accordance with the shared values that previously formed the basis of our cooperation has been undermined.”&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/harry-kane-wins-second-european-golden-shoe-award-and-has-no-itch-to-return-to-premier-league-1787212858836">Harry Kane wins second European Golden Shoe award and has 'no itch' to return to Premier League</a>&nbsp;The letter also mentioned “a number of controversial decisions” related to this year’s World Cup. Csanyi said Infantino had been working “on plans to outsource FIFA competitions and place them in the hands of external parties”.&nbsp;“The final straw was the unexpected dismissal of Kevin Lamour,” the letter said, adding that it “points to serious shortcomings in professional judgement, ethical standards and leadership”.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-sl-ashwin-says-jadeja-not-attacking-anymore-as-suthar-steps-up-1787200098549">IND vs SL: Ashwin says 'Jadeja not attacking anymore' as Suthar steps up</a>&nbsp;On Tuesday, UEFA vice-president Laura McAllister also criticised FIFA’s decision to dismiss Lamour, saying it sent a “deeply troubling message to all of us seeking change”.

Support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino is weakening, with more national football federations and FIFA officials turning against him following COO Kevin Lamour’s departure, described by one FIFA vice-president as the “final straw.”

A FIFA vice-president has withdrawn his support for world football body president Gianni Infantino, saying the “unexpected dismissal” of Kevin Lamour was the “final straw”. Frenchman Lamour was FIFA’s chief operating officer, but his position became difficult after he criticised Infantino last month and spoke out against his now-rejected plan to allow private investment in World Cups. In a letter sent to Infantino on Tuesday, FIFA vice-president and council member Sandor Csanyi of Hungary said Infantino had “lost the confidence I previously placed in you”. Csanyi, a billionaire businessman, banker and head of the Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ), said, “My conviction that you are capable of continuing to lead FIFA successfully and effectively in accordance with the shared values that previously formed the basis of our cooperation has been undermined.” Also Read - Harry Kane wins second European Golden Shoe award and has 'no itch' to return to Premier League The letter also mentioned “a number of controversial decisions” related to this year’s World Cup. Csanyi said Infantino had been working “on plans to outsource FIFA competitions and place them in the hands of external parties”. “The final straw was the unexpected dismissal of Kevin Lamour,” the letter said, adding that it “points to serious shortcomings in professional judgement, ethical standards and leadership”. Also Read - IND vs SL: Ashwin says 'Jadeja not attacking anymore' as Suthar steps up On Tuesday, UEFA vice-president Laura McAllister also criticised FIFA’s decision to dismiss Lamour, saying it sent a “deeply troubling message to all of us seeking change”.

Support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino is weakening, with more national football federations and FIFA officials turning against him following COO Kevin Lamour’s departure, described by one FIFA vice-president as the “final straw.”

Infantino faces fresh setback as senior FIFA official pulls support

US President Donald Trump on Monday backed FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who is in hot water over allegations of a workplace affair and criticism of a failed private investment scheme."FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino," Trump said in a Truth Social post, calling the Italian-Swiss lawyer "fantastic" and saying he "presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented.""If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again!"Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/jose-mourinho-manchester-united-2013-sir-alex-ferguson-chelsea-1786359930223">'Special One' Jose Mourinho admits he almost joined Manchester United in 2013</a>Trump's backing of Infantino contrasts with the response of US Soccer, which issued a statement critiquing the FIFA leader alongside Canada Soccer and football organizations in Central America and the Caribbean.Infantino, who faces reelection next March, has denied allegations of wrongdoing, and FIFA for their part has backed its beseiged president, calling the backlash "a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine" the organization.Other football organizations, including the Confederation of African Football and South American governing body CONMEBOL, share Trump's position in supporting Infantino.

Trump's backing of Infantino contrasts with the response of US Soccer, which issued a statement critiquing the FIFA leader alongside Canada Soccer and football organizations in Central America and the Caribbean.

US President Donald Trump on Monday backed FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who is in hot water over allegations of a workplace affair and criticism of a failed private investment scheme. "FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino," Trump said in a Truth Social post, calling the Italian-Swiss lawyer "fantastic" and saying he "presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented." "If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again!" Also Read - 'Special One' Jose Mourinho admits he almost joined Manchester United in 2013 Trump's backing of Infantino contrasts with the response of US Soccer, which issued a statement critiquing the FIFA leader alongside Canada Soccer and football organizations in Central America and the Caribbean. Infantino, who faces reelection next March, has denied allegations of wrongdoing, and FIFA for their part has backed its beseiged president, calling the backlash "a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine" the organization. Other football organizations, including the Confederation of African Football and South American governing body CONMEBOL, share Trump's position in supporting Infantino.

Trump's backing of Infantino contrasts with the response of US Soccer, which issued a statement critiquing the FIFA leader alongside Canada Soccer and football organizations in Central America and the Caribbean.

US President Donald Trump backs FIFA chief Gianni Infantino amid ongoing crisis

FIFA President Gianni Infantino and UEFA have both dismissed claims of the European footballing body paying a six-figure amount to Infantino’s alleged secret lover during his time as the association’s general secretary. Shocking claims have gone viral, putting Infantino, who continues to fight for his place as head of FIFA, in hot water.&nbsp;Infantino recently made headlines for all the wrong reasons – first for overturning the US striker Folarin Balogun’s 'controversial red card' appeal during the concluded World Cup on Donald Trump’s request, and secondly for ‘crossing the red line’ by wanting to sell the stake of the World Cup to private investors. He faced massive backlash over his decisions, with FAs worldwide uniting to vote him out of power ahead of the next elections.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pressure-continues-to-mount-on-fifa-chief-infantino-as-uefa-maintains-boycott-threat-conmebol-criticises-1786077683861">Pressure continues to mount on FIFA chief Infantino as UEFA maintains boycott threat, CONMEBOL criticises</a> &nbsp;Meanwhile, a report in The Daily Telegraph claims that an unnamed woman received a six-figure amount after her relationship with Infantino, and that UEFA also paid for her MBA degree after she had left the organisation.<h2>UEFA and FIFA Deny Allegations</h2>UEFA has refuted these claims in the latest development. &nbsp;"The payment was in line with the regulations that existed for departing staff at the time. Such regulations have been tightened since 2016 and the current staff regulations - which apply to all UEFA employees at whatever level - reflect those found in a modern, high-profile organisation,” a UEFA spokesperson said in a chat with Sky News. &nbsp;On the other hand, a FIFA spokesperson also denied all allegations levelled against the FIFA boss. &nbsp;"Any insinuation of inappropriate conduct or violation of statutes or regulations is defamatory," the FIFA spokesperson said in a statement to Sky News. &nbsp;Infantino worked at UEFA for close to two decades (from 2000 to 2016) before being elected as the FIFA president.&nbsp; &nbsp;"No employee at UEFA and FIFA has ever raised a complaint regarding Mr Infantino's behaviour because there never was an incident where he was involved. "All company actions related to employees, including any departure and severance packages, have always been approved by the appropriate directors in accordance with all applicable regulations," the spokesperson added.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino and UEFA have denied allegations regarding a six-figure payment and MBA sponsorship for an alleged secret lover during his time as UEFA general secretary.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino and UEFA have both dismissed claims of the European footballing body paying a six-figure amount to Infantino’s alleged secret lover during his time as the association’s general secretary. Shocking claims have gone viral, putting Infantino, who continues to fight for his place as head of FIFA, in hot water. Infantino recently made headlines for all the wrong reasons – first for overturning the US striker Folarin Balogun’s 'controversial red card' appeal during the concluded World Cup on Donald Trump’s request, and secondly for ‘crossing the red line’ by wanting to sell the stake of the World Cup to private investors. He faced massive backlash over his decisions, with FAs worldwide uniting to vote him out of power ahead of the next elections. Also read| Pressure continues to mount on FIFA chief Infantino as UEFA maintains boycott threat, CONMEBOL criticises Meanwhile, a report in The Daily Telegraph claims that an unnamed woman received a six-figure amount after her relationship with Infantino, and that UEFA also paid for her MBA degree after she had left the organisation. UEFA and FIFA Deny Allegations UEFA has refuted these claims in the latest development. "The payment was in line with the regulations that existed for departing staff at the time. Such regulations have been tightened since 2016 and the current staff regulations - which apply to all UEFA employees at whatever level - reflect those found in a modern, high-profile organisation,” a UEFA spokesperson said in a chat with Sky News. On the other hand, a FIFA spokesperson also denied all allegations levelled against the FIFA boss. "Any insinuation of inappropriate conduct or violation of statutes or regulations is defamatory," the FIFA spokesperson said in a statement to Sky News. Infantino worked at UEFA for close to two decades (from 2000 to 2016) before being elected as the FIFA president. "No employee at UEFA and FIFA has ever raised a complaint regarding Mr Infantino's behaviour because there never was an incident where he was involved. "All company actions related to employees, including any departure and severance packages, have always been approved by the appropriate directors in accordance with all applicable regulations," the spokesperson added.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino and UEFA have denied allegations regarding a six-figure payment and MBA sponsorship for an alleged secret lover during his time as UEFA general secretary.

FIFA boss and UEFA dismiss claims of 'six-figure' payment to Infantino's secret lover

Pressure built on FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Thursday over his cancelled plan to bring private finance into football's World Cup, with European governing body UEFA reiterating a threat to boycott tournaments. The 56-year-old Swiss official has also been criticised by South American body CONMEBOL. But he did get backing from the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Infantino received the "full support" of senior FIFA directors at an emergency meeting in Morocco on Wednesday but UEFA released a blunt statement in response.UEFA's initial threat issued last Thursday to boycott FIFA competitions is said to have been pivotal in forcing Infantino to shelve the private investment deal.Calls for him to step down had grown since he abandoned it last Saturday.FIFA said it could raise up to $4.2 billion based on a valuation of $20 billion for a new commercial subsidiary, called the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which it proposed would run events such as the World Cup and Club World Cup.Although the abandonment of the proposal was one of UEFA's conditions for it to withdraw its threat, it said that not all of its demands had been met."UEFA's associations were very clear about the conditions attached to their non participation in FIFA competitions," read its statement"First, the proposals to sell off the major competitions had to be withdrawn and secondly, assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again."These conditions have not been met."Whilst UEFA welcomed the withdrawal of the plan last Saturday, it had slammed Infantino and his "shabby, backroom, opaque deal".Its tone had not changed in Thursday's statement."UEFA made it abundantly clear in its statement on Saturday that it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino's presidency. That position holds," it said.Several UEFA member associations have withdrawn support for Infantino's bid to be re-elected to a fourth and final term in Rabat next March.A prominent critic, Norwegian football chief Lise Klaveness, is likely to pour more fuel on the fire when she holds a press conference on Friday.<h2>‘Abuse of power’</h2>Infantino was also criticised by usually supportive South American governing body CONMEBOL."The Council also unanimously expresses its concern regarding the repeated unilateral actions taken without resorting to dialogue or to the institutional mechanisms established to address situations of this nature," read its statement.CONMEBOL, though, said regarding Infantino's future it would not countenance anything other than a straight contest -- if a challenger comes forward by November 18 when nominations close -- in Rabat.There is a mechanism whereby an extraordinary FIFA congress can be called and a vote of no confidence in Infantino held.North and Central American football's governing body CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have both been critical of Infantino, but were yet to react to the latest developments.CONCACAF -- whose president Victor Montagliani is seen as a potential challenger -- had called for "a comprehensive reckoning with this presidency".FIFPRO, the players union, piled into Infantino over the plan calling it "a profound abuse of presidential power"."FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) is gone," it said in a statement."The abuse of power that produced it is not."Support did come Infantino's way on Thursday, however, as CAF "unanimously reconfirmed its support" for the FIFA president in a statement released following a meeting of its members.Several CAF members had already expressed their support for the Swiss official, who has been in power for 10 years. South Africa's sports minister Gayton McKenzie had urged African football to resist what he called the "public lynching" of Infantino.CONMEBOL said it was a shame the hugely successful staging of the World Cup -- the first with 48 teams and spread over three countries -- had had its thunder stolen by the events over the past week."The CONMEBOL Council calls for preserving the unity of the football family," it said.

The 56-year-old Swiss official has also been criticised by South American body CONMEBOL. But he did get backing from the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Infantino received the "full support" of senior FIFA directors at an emergency meeting in Morocco on Wednesday.

Pressure built on FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Thursday over his cancelled plan to bring private finance into football's World Cup, with European governing body UEFA reiterating a threat to boycott tournaments. The 56-year-old Swiss official has also been criticised by South American body CONMEBOL. But he did get backing from the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Infantino received the "full support" of senior FIFA directors at an emergency meeting in Morocco on Wednesday but UEFA released a blunt statement in response. UEFA's initial threat issued last Thursday to boycott FIFA competitions is said to have been pivotal in forcing Infantino to shelve the private investment deal. Calls for him to step down had grown since he abandoned it last Saturday. FIFA said it could raise up to $4.2 billion based on a valuation of $20 billion for a new commercial subsidiary, called the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which it proposed would run events such as the World Cup and Club World Cup. Although the abandonment of the proposal was one of UEFA's conditions for it to withdraw its threat, it said that not all of its demands had been met. "UEFA's associations were very clear about the conditions attached to their non participation in FIFA competitions," read its statement "First, the proposals to sell off the major competitions had to be withdrawn and secondly, assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again. "These conditions have not been met." Whilst UEFA welcomed the withdrawal of the plan last Saturday, it had slammed Infantino and his "shabby, backroom, opaque deal". Its tone had not changed in Thursday's statement. "UEFA made it abundantly clear in its statement on Saturday that it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino's presidency. That position holds," it said. Several UEFA member associations have withdrawn support for Infantino's bid to be re-elected to a fourth and final term in Rabat next March. A prominent critic, Norwegian football chief Lise Klaveness, is likely to pour more fuel on the fire when she holds a press conference on Friday. ‘Abuse of power’ Infantino was also criticised by usually supportive South American governing body CONMEBOL. "The Council also unanimously expresses its concern regarding the repeated unilateral actions taken without resorting to dialogue or to the institutional mechanisms established to address situations of this nature," read its statement. CONMEBOL, though, said regarding Infantino's future it would not countenance anything other than a straight contest -- if a challenger comes forward by November 18 when nominations close -- in Rabat. There is a mechanism whereby an extraordinary FIFA congress can be called and a vote of no confidence in Infantino held. North and Central American football's governing body CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have both been critical of Infantino, but were yet to react to the latest developments. CONCACAF -- whose president Victor Montagliani is seen as a potential challenger -- had called for "a comprehensive reckoning with this presidency". FIFPRO, the players union, piled into Infantino over the plan calling it "a profound abuse of presidential power". "FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) is gone," it said in a statement. "The abuse of power that produced it is not." Support did come Infantino's way on Thursday, however, as CAF "unanimously reconfirmed its support" for the FIFA president in a statement released following a meeting of its members. Several CAF members had already expressed their support for the Swiss official, who has been in power for 10 years. South Africa's sports minister Gayton McKenzie had urged African football to resist what he called the "public lynching" of Infantino. CONMEBOL said it was a shame the hugely successful staging of the World Cup -- the first with 48 teams and spread over three countries -- had had its thunder stolen by the events over the past week. "The CONMEBOL Council calls for preserving the unity of the football family," it said.

The 56-year-old Swiss official has also been criticised by South American body CONMEBOL. But he did get backing from the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Infantino received the "full support" of senior FIFA directors at an emergency meeting in Morocco on Wednesday.

Pressure continues to mount on FIFA chief Infantino as UEFA maintains boycott threat, CONMEBOL criticises

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has joined the growing list of Gianni Infantino's critics, saying he has no confidence in the FIFA chief's leadership. The comments came after Infantino was forced to scrap his controversial plan to sell World Cup commercial stakes to private investors, following fierce pushback led by UEFA. Portugal great Luis Figo also demanded Infantino step down, calling his conduct disgraceful. With pressure mounting from multiple fronts, Infantino called an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-leadership-apologise-for-privatisation-plan-back-infantino-post-acknowledging-error-1785985302966">emergency meeting with FIFA staff</a> on Wednesday (Aug 5). Carney's remarks carry extra weight given his closeness to CONCACAF chief Victor Montagliani, who is being pushed to challenge Infantino in next year's presidential election.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/police-scotland-probe-missing-pakistan-uganda-athletes-cwg-2026-1785944293902">Scottish police probes missing athletes from Pakistan and Uganda after CWG 2026</a><h2>What did Carney say about Infantino?</h2>Carney did not hold back while addressing the failed sell-off scheme, calling it something that should end Infantino's presidency. "It should be fatal," the Canadian PM said, adding, "Certainly I don't have confidence in Mr Infantino," as quoted by The Guardian. His intervention is significant, coming from a G7 leader with strong football-governance connections. CONCACAF has already called for a full review of FIFA's governance structure, and several member federations are reportedly ready to pull their backing for Infantino ahead of next year's election battle.<h2>Figo comes out swinging as well</h2>Writing in the Daily Mail, the former Barcelona and Real Madrid winger, who had 127 caps for Portugal, accused Infantino of ruining the office he once promised to elevate. "I could write 10,000 words on the problems at FIFA. But the solution needs only three: Infantino must go," Figo wrote."He has lost the support of his senior staff, his closest advisers, the vast majority of people who devote their lives to this sport and even, it would seem, the Fifa Peace Prize winner [Donald Trump]. It is too late to save his dignity but it is not too late to save football. He should go. Now.”

The comments came after Infantino was forced to scrap his controversial plan to sell World Cup commercial stakes to private investors, following fierce pushback led by UEFA.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has joined the growing list of Gianni Infantino's critics, saying he has no confidence in the FIFA chief's leadership. The comments came after Infantino was forced to scrap his controversial plan to sell World Cup commercial stakes to private investors, following fierce pushback led by UEFA. Portugal great Luis Figo also demanded Infantino step down, calling his conduct disgraceful. With pressure mounting from multiple fronts, Infantino called an emergency meeting with FIFA staff on Wednesday (Aug 5). Carney's remarks carry extra weight given his closeness to CONCACAF chief Victor Montagliani, who is being pushed to challenge Infantino in next year's presidential election. Also Read - Scottish police probes missing athletes from Pakistan and Uganda after CWG 2026 What did Carney say about Infantino? Carney did not hold back while addressing the failed sell-off scheme, calling it something that should end Infantino's presidency. "It should be fatal," the Canadian PM said, adding, "Certainly I don't have confidence in Mr Infantino," as quoted by The Guardian. His intervention is significant, coming from a G7 leader with strong football-governance connections. CONCACAF has already called for a full review of FIFA's governance structure, and several member federations are reportedly ready to pull their backing for Infantino ahead of next year's election battle. Figo comes out swinging as well Writing in the Daily Mail, the former Barcelona and Real Madrid winger, who had 127 caps for Portugal, accused Infantino of ruining the office he once promised to elevate. "I could write 10,000 words on the problems at FIFA. But the solution needs only three: Infantino must go," Figo wrote. "He has lost the support of his senior staff, his closest advisers, the vast majority of people who devote their lives to this sport and even, it would seem, the Fifa Peace Prize winner [Donald Trump]. It is too late to save his dignity but it is not too late to save football. He should go. Now.”

The comments came after Infantino was forced to scrap his controversial plan to sell World Cup commercial stakes to private investors, following fierce pushback led by UEFA.

'Infantino must go': Canada PM Carney, Portugal legend Figo come out swinging at FIFA chief Infantino

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has received the "full support" of senior directors on Wednesday but world football's governing body apologised for the controversy of the now-shelved plan to open the World Cup to private investment. Facing a barrage of criticism following the aborted plan, FIFA's leadership acknowledged "errors", while nonetheless backing under-fire Infantino following a crisis meeting in Morocco. Infantino has come under increasing pressure, even from within his organisation, over his handling of the proposal, and calls for him to step down had grown since he abandoned it last Saturday.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/police-scotland-probe-missing-pakistan-uganda-athletes-cwg-2026-1785944293902">Scottish police probes missing athletes from Pakistan and Uganda after CWG 2026</a>In a statement Wednesday, FIFA's leadership acknowledged "that errors were also made after the proposal was leaked to media".FIFA floated the plan, saying it could raise up to $4.2 billion based on a valuation of $20 billion for a new commercial subsidiary, called the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which it proposed would run events such as the World Cup and Club World Cup.It said that, if approved, the project could provide each of FIFA's 211 member associations with a one-off payment of $20 million in early 2027, and increase their funding allocation for the 2027-2030 cycle from $8 million to $20 million.Instead of acting as a sweetener it produced a furious backlash, with European football's governing body UEFA resorting on Thursday to the nuclear option of boycotting the sport's jewel in the crown, the World Cup.By Saturday, Infantino held his hands up and withdrew the plan."Our purpose has always been -- and will always be -- to unite and improve," said Infantino.After Wednesday's meeting in Rabat, the FIFA Secretary General and members of the FIFA Management Board in attendance said in a statement they "reaffirmed their full support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, as the only official elected by the 211 FIFA Member Associations"."The meeting also addressed the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, where mistakes made were acknowledged," the statement said."It was agreed that it was not the intention for the FIFA Council and FIFA Member Associations to feel excluded from the process and that the process should have been handled differently."It was further acknowledged that errors were also made after the proposal was leaked to media."In a separate letter to the FIFA Council and FIFA Member Associations, an apology was made for these errors together with a commitment to ensure they do not happen again."<h2>‘Off the table’</h2>One of those believed to be at the meeting was FIFA's secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom, whose internal email to staff criticising the plan was leaked on Tuesday."A review will now be conducted, and a report will be presented to the FIFA Council at its next scheduled meeting," the FIFA statement said."As previously communicated, the FFE proposal, which would have been subject to the approval of the FIFA Member Associations and the FIFA Council, is now off the table."Later Wednesday, Infantino -- a 56-year-old Swiss lawyer who was in Morocco to celebrate last week's Feast of the Enthronement -- attended the Women's Africa Cup of Nations match between Zambia and Malawi in Rabat.The FIFA chief was spotted alongside the president of the Moroccan football federation at the entrance to Al Medina Stadium, an AFP photographer observed.Morocco is to co-host the 2030 World Cup and Moroccan Football chief Fouzi Lekjaa is one of the few to have publicly supported Infantino since the humiliating climbdown.Lekjaa last Saturday had praised his "wise" move to scrap the plan in the interests of "unity and cohesion".He reiterated his backing for Infantino for "all the initiatives aimed at the development of world football" during his 10 years in charge.Infantino had been basking in the warm afterglow of a highly successful World Cup -- the largest ever with 48 teams and co-hosted by three countries, Canada, Mexico and the US.His wish to serve a fourth and final term looked likely to be rubber-stamped in Rabat next March -- no other candidate had come forward to challenge him.However, Tuesday last week all that faded.UEFA termed the proposal to privatise the World Cup a "shabby, back room, opaque deal" hatched by Infantino."The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA's confidence but also that of many other members of the football family," UEFA said in a statement.North and Central American football's governing body CONCACAF went further still and called for "a comprehensive reckoning with this presidency" while slamming Infantino's "poor governance and leadership".On Wednesday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose country co-hosted the 2026 World Cup, said he no longer had confidence in Infantino's ability to lead FIFA.

In a statement Wednesday, FIFA's leadership acknowledged "that errors were also made after the proposal was leaked to media".

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has received the "full support" of senior directors on Wednesday but world football's governing body apologised for the controversy of the now-shelved plan to open the World Cup to private investment. Facing a barrage of criticism following the aborted plan, FIFA's leadership acknowledged "errors", while nonetheless backing under-fire Infantino following a crisis meeting in Morocco. Infantino has come under increasing pressure, even from within his organisation, over his handling of the proposal, and calls for him to step down had grown since he abandoned it last Saturday. Also Read - Scottish police probes missing athletes from Pakistan and Uganda after CWG 2026 In a statement Wednesday, FIFA's leadership acknowledged "that errors were also made after the proposal was leaked to media". FIFA floated the plan, saying it could raise up to $4.2 billion based on a valuation of $20 billion for a new commercial subsidiary, called the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which it proposed would run events such as the World Cup and Club World Cup. It said that, if approved, the project could provide each of FIFA's 211 member associations with a one-off payment of $20 million in early 2027, and increase their funding allocation for the 2027-2030 cycle from $8 million to $20 million. Instead of acting as a sweetener it produced a furious backlash, with European football's governing body UEFA resorting on Thursday to the nuclear option of boycotting the sport's jewel in the crown, the World Cup. By Saturday, Infantino held his hands up and withdrew the plan. "Our purpose has always been -- and will always be -- to unite and improve," said Infantino. After Wednesday's meeting in Rabat, the FIFA Secretary General and members of the FIFA Management Board in attendance said in a statement they "reaffirmed their full support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, as the only official elected by the 211 FIFA Member Associations". "The meeting also addressed the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, where mistakes made were acknowledged," the statement said. "It was agreed that it was not the intention for the FIFA Council and FIFA Member Associations to feel excluded from the process and that the process should have been handled differently. "It was further acknowledged that errors were also made after the proposal was leaked to media. "In a separate letter to the FIFA Council and FIFA Member Associations, an apology was made for these errors together with a commitment to ensure they do not happen again." ‘Off the table’ One of those believed to be at the meeting was FIFA's secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom, whose internal email to staff criticising the plan was leaked on Tuesday. "A review will now be conducted, and a report will be presented to the FIFA Council at its next scheduled meeting," the FIFA statement said. "As previously communicated, the FFE proposal, which would have been subject to the approval of the FIFA Member Associations and the FIFA Council, is now off the table." Later Wednesday, Infantino -- a 56-year-old Swiss lawyer who was in Morocco to celebrate last week's Feast of the Enthronement -- attended the Women's Africa Cup of Nations match between Zambia and Malawi in Rabat. The FIFA chief was spotted alongside the president of the Moroccan football federation at the entrance to Al Medina Stadium, an AFP photographer observed. Morocco is to co-host the 2030 World Cup and Moroccan Football chief Fouzi Lekjaa is one of the few to have publicly supported Infantino since the humiliating climbdown. Lekjaa last Saturday had praised his "wise" move to scrap the plan in the interests of "unity and cohesion". He reiterated his backing for Infantino for "all the initiatives aimed at the development of world football" during his 10 years in charge. Infantino had been basking in the warm afterglow of a highly successful World Cup -- the largest ever with 48 teams and co-hosted by three countries, Canada, Mexico and the US. His wish to serve a fourth and final term looked likely to be rubber-stamped in Rabat next March -- no other candidate had come forward to challenge him. However, Tuesday last week all that faded. UEFA termed the proposal to privatise the World Cup a "shabby, back room, opaque deal" hatched by Infantino. "The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA's confidence but also that of many other members of the football family," UEFA said in a statement. North and Central American football's governing body CONCACAF went further still and called for "a comprehensive reckoning with this presidency" while slamming Infantino's "poor governance and leadership". On Wednesday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose country co-hosted the 2026 World Cup, said he no longer had confidence in Infantino's ability to lead FIFA.

In a statement Wednesday, FIFA's leadership acknowledged "that errors were also made after the proposal was leaked to media".

FIFA leadership apologise for privatisation plan, back Infantino post acknowledging error

Arsene Wenger has broken his silence on FIFA's controversial proposal to sell a stake in its commercial operations to private investors. The former Arsenal manager, now FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development, said he had no involvement in the project and only learned about it through media reports. Wenger also backed the decision to withdraw the proposal, which faced strong opposition from UEFA, AFC, CONCACAF and several national football associations.

Arsene Wenger distances himself from Infantino's FIFA sell-off plan

FIFA chief Gianni Infantino's troubles are not looking to end anytime soon with Jordan Football Association chief Prince Ali bin al-Hussein has accused the FIFA chief of 'blackmailing.' The statement comes as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/trouble-continues-to-mount-for-fifa-chief-infantino-as-more-uefa-members-including-england-withdraw-support-1785812619480">multiple European football nations have withdrawn their support</a> for Infantino's bid to be the FIFA chief fourth consecutive time. Prince Ali claimed that FIFA threatened to hold funds if Jordan Football refuses to back Infantino's bid for re-election. Notably, Prince Ali had gone against Infantino in 2016 to be the FIFA chief but finished third.<h2>What Jordan FA said about Infantino?</h2>IN a statement on X, Jordan FA chief Prince Ali, who is also the head of West Asian Football Federation, said that Jordann players haven't gotten their dues from Arab Cup played in Qatar in December last year.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/arsenal-close-in-80m-bruno-guimaraes-deal-newcastle-1785866813480">Transfer News: PL champs Arsenal close in on £80m deal for Newcastle’s Guimaraes</a>"We have been waiting for reward money for our players since December for the Arab Cup in Qatar, which is a FIFA event," read the statement. "The money our team should receive for having reached the final has not been delivered yet, while at the same time FIFA brags about how many billions they have in reserve. It is clear the problem really is with leadership. For months, FIFA has been refusing to help us on any of these or other matters – until it was verbally communicated to me during the World Cup that if I endorsed Infantino it would go a long way to helping our FA out."We pride ourselves in Jordan in upholding ethical values. We did not endorse him before and certainly will not now. But the whole situation amounts to blackmail and we refuse to give in to that," it added.<h2>What next for Infantino?</h2>Jordan is not the only trouble for Infantino as FIFA's secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom also called FIFA's plan to sell the tourament stakes to private investors a "sad and reproachable series of events" in an e-mail to the staff. Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is FIFA's chief of global development, also welcomed FIFA's plan call off the sale of stake as "absolutely necessary and beyond question."Infantino, meanwhile, has called a meeting of senior executives in Morocco on Wednesday amid the ongoing crisis.

Prince Ali claimed that FIFA threatened to hold funds if Jordan Football refuses to back Infantino's bid for re-election. Notably, Prince Ali had gone against Infantino in 2016 to be the FIFA chief but finished third.

FIFA chief Gianni Infantino's troubles are not looking to end anytime soon with Jordan Football Association chief Prince Ali bin al-Hussein has accused the FIFA chief of 'blackmailing.' The statement comes as multiple European football nations have withdrawn their support for Infantino's bid to be the FIFA chief fourth consecutive time. Prince Ali claimed that FIFA threatened to hold funds if Jordan Football refuses to back Infantino's bid for re-election. Notably, Prince Ali had gone against Infantino in 2016 to be the FIFA chief but finished third. What Jordan FA said about Infantino? IN a statement on X, Jordan FA chief Prince Ali, who is also the head of West Asian Football Federation, said that Jordann players haven't gotten their dues from Arab Cup played in Qatar in December last year. Also Read - Transfer News: PL champs Arsenal close in on £80m deal for Newcastle’s Guimaraes "We have been waiting for reward money for our players since December for the Arab Cup in Qatar, which is a FIFA event," read the statement. "The money our team should receive for having reached the final has not been delivered yet, while at the same time FIFA brags about how many billions they have in reserve. It is clear the problem really is with leadership. For months, FIFA has been refusing to help us on any of these or other matters – until it was verbally communicated to me during the World Cup that if I endorsed Infantino it would go a long way to helping our FA out. "We pride ourselves in Jordan in upholding ethical values. We did not endorse him before and certainly will not now. But the whole situation amounts to blackmail and we refuse to give in to that," it added. What next for Infantino? Jordan is not the only trouble for Infantino as FIFA's secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom also called FIFA's plan to sell the tourament stakes to private investors a "sad and reproachable series of events" in an e-mail to the staff. Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is FIFA's chief of global development, also welcomed FIFA's plan call off the sale of stake as "absolutely necessary and beyond question." Infantino, meanwhile, has called a meeting of senior executives in Morocco on Wednesday amid the ongoing crisis.

Prince Ali claimed that FIFA threatened to hold funds if Jordan Football refuses to back Infantino's bid for re-election. Notably, Prince Ali had gone against Infantino in 2016 to be the FIFA chief but finished third.

More trouble for Infantino as Jordan FA chief Prince Ali accuses FIFA of 'blackmailing'

FIFA chief Gianni Infantino's troubles seem to be mouting exponentially after more UEFA members withdrew their support for his fourth term in office. The move from UEFA members comes after Infantino's failed plan to sell a stake of FIFA World Cup to private investers. After Welsh and Sweden football associations called for change in leadership for the next term, England's Football Association as well as Serbia, have also backed out on their support for Infantino as the FIFA chief for next term.<h2>What is making European members backing out on support for Infantino?</h2>The European nations did not like the way Infantino catered to the needs of the co-host USA at the recently concluded FIFA World Cup 2026. The boiling point came during the event when FIFA suspended a red-card punishment for US player Florian Balogun, which made him eligible to play in the next match, on US president Trump's request. The UEFA members didn't like the move and called out Infantino for the same. After the tournament, Infantiono revealed his plan to sell a stake in the FIFA World Cup to the private investors, but it failed to see the daylight.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-president-gianni-infantino-seeks-trump-s-backing-after-world-cup-rights-plan-fails-1785769483824">FIFA President Gianni Infantino seeks Trump’s backing after WC rights plan fails</a><h2>What did UEFA members say about withdrawing the support for Infantino?</h2>"The Football Association of Wales hereby confirms its withdrawal of support for the candidature of Mr Gianni Infantino for re-election as FIFA president for the 2027-2031 term," read a statement. Infantino has been the president of the sport's global body for over &nbsp;decade now and the next term would be his fourth, if re-eleced.Football Serbia said that the recent events had "seriously damaged the reputation and credibility of both Fifa and its president", which makes the withdrawl of support "the only logical and rational step."England's FA, meanwhile, called for a "full and robust review of FIFA’s leadership and governance."

After the FIFA World Cup, Infantiono revealed his plan to sell a stake in the FIFA World Cup to the private investors, but it failed to see the daylight.

FIFA chief Gianni Infantino's troubles seem to be mouting exponentially after more UEFA members withdrew their support for his fourth term in office. The move from UEFA members comes after Infantino's failed plan to sell a stake of FIFA World Cup to private investers. After Welsh and Sweden football associations called for change in leadership for the next term, England's Football Association as well as Serbia, have also backed out on their support for Infantino as the FIFA chief for next term. What is making European members backing out on support for Infantino? The European nations did not like the way Infantino catered to the needs of the co-host USA at the recently concluded FIFA World Cup 2026. The boiling point came during the event when FIFA suspended a red-card punishment for US player Florian Balogun, which made him eligible to play in the next match, on US president Trump's request. The UEFA members didn't like the move and called out Infantino for the same. After the tournament, Infantiono revealed his plan to sell a stake in the FIFA World Cup to the private investors, but it failed to see the daylight. Also Read - FIFA President Gianni Infantino seeks Trump’s backing after WC rights plan fails What did UEFA members say about withdrawing the support for Infantino? "The Football Association of Wales hereby confirms its withdrawal of support for the candidature of Mr Gianni Infantino for re-election as FIFA president for the 2027-2031 term," read a statement. Infantino has been the president of the sport's global body for over decade now and the next term would be his fourth, if re-eleced. Football Serbia said that the recent events had "seriously damaged the reputation and credibility of both Fifa and its president", which makes the withdrawl of support "the only logical and rational step." England's FA, meanwhile, called for a "full and robust review of FIFA’s leadership and governance."

After the FIFA World Cup, Infantiono revealed his plan to sell a stake in the FIFA World Cup to the private investors, but it failed to see the daylight.

Trouble continues to mount for FIFA chief Infantino as more UEFA members, including England, withdraw support

FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s position remains under scrutiny on Saturday (Aug 1) despite scrapping plans to allow private investment in the World Cup. UEFA, the European football governing body, led the opposition, also backed by FAs worldwide, saying they would boycott all FIFA competitions, including the showpiece event, should the deal go ahead. While welcoming the proposal’s withdrawal, UEFA claimed that Infantino had lost their and other football family members' ‘confidence’ with his ‘shabby, back-room, opaque deal’.&nbsp;After first revealing the plan to the world on Tuesday, Infantino, whose smooth path to unopposed re-election for a final term next year is being openly questioned, issued a statement backing down following severe global backlash.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/chelsea-fa-fine-suspended-transfer-ban-points-deduction-appeal-1785511480592">Chelsea escape points deduction but face fine, two-window transfer ban for rule breach</a> &nbsp;"Our purpose has always been -- and will always be -- to unite and improve," Infantino said in a statement. "As a result, this proposal will not proceed." &nbsp;The FIFA president floated the idea of forming a new firm called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to run marquee tournaments like the World Cup and the Club World Cup, and planned to sell some of its shares to private investors to raise $4.2 billion in cash. Infantino’s idea was to convince all 211 FAs to agree to sign up for it, while promising an upfront bonus of a $20 million payout in early 2027.&nbsp; &nbsp;UEFA and other associations slammed this idea, and did not mince their words in holding Infantino to account for the debacle just weeks after he basked in the afterglow of a highly successful World Cup -- the first with 48 teams and hosted in three countries. &nbsp;"The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA's confidence but also that of many other members of the football family," read the statement. &nbsp;UEFA accused the 56-year-old Swiss of breaking promises he made, namely to be "transparent" and that FIFA's money was "your (the member associations) money" and "not the money of the FIFA President." &nbsp;"On both these promises, he has failed to deliver," said UEFA. "The shabby, back-room, opaque deal he hatched and tried to force through were anything but transparent. &nbsp;"And with reserves standing at over $5bn, he has also failed to use associations' money for the benefit of the game." &nbsp;Meanwhile, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which represents 47 member nations, said that any initiative that may impact global football should be "presented and discussed with the Confederations, the FIFA Council, Member Associations (MAs) and other stakeholders in a timely, transparent and meaningful manner.”&nbsp;(With inputs from AFP)

FIFA president Gianni Infantino faces a severe crisis as UEFA declares it has lost confidence in his leadership despite his decision to drop a $4.2B World Cup private investment plan.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s position remains under scrutiny on Saturday (Aug 1) despite scrapping plans to allow private investment in the World Cup. UEFA, the European football governing body, led the opposition, also backed by FAs worldwide, saying they would boycott all FIFA competitions, including the showpiece event, should the deal go ahead. While welcoming the proposal’s withdrawal, UEFA claimed that Infantino had lost their and other football family members' ‘confidence’ with his ‘shabby, back-room, opaque deal’. After first revealing the plan to the world on Tuesday, Infantino, whose smooth path to unopposed re-election for a final term next year is being openly questioned, issued a statement backing down following severe global backlash. Also read| Chelsea escape points deduction but face fine, two-window transfer ban for rule breach "Our purpose has always been -- and will always be -- to unite and improve," Infantino said in a statement. "As a result, this proposal will not proceed." The FIFA president floated the idea of forming a new firm called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to run marquee tournaments like the World Cup and the Club World Cup, and planned to sell some of its shares to private investors to raise $4.2 billion in cash. Infantino’s idea was to convince all 211 FAs to agree to sign up for it, while promising an upfront bonus of a $20 million payout in early 2027. UEFA and other associations slammed this idea, and did not mince their words in holding Infantino to account for the debacle just weeks after he basked in the afterglow of a highly successful World Cup -- the first with 48 teams and hosted in three countries. "The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA's confidence but also that of many other members of the football family," read the statement. UEFA accused the 56-year-old Swiss of breaking promises he made, namely to be "transparent" and that FIFA's money was "your (the member associations) money" and "not the money of the FIFA President." "On both these promises, he has failed to deliver," said UEFA. "The shabby, back-room, opaque deal he hatched and tried to force through were anything but transparent. "And with reserves standing at over $5bn, he has also failed to use associations' money for the benefit of the game." Meanwhile, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which represents 47 member nations, said that any initiative that may impact global football should be "presented and discussed with the Confederations, the FIFA Council, Member Associations (MAs) and other stakeholders in a timely, transparent and meaningful manner.” (With inputs from AFP)

FIFA president Gianni Infantino faces a severe crisis as UEFA declares it has lost confidence in his leadership despite his decision to drop a $4.2B World Cup private investment plan.

FIFA lose 'UEFA’s confidence' despite shelving World Cup private investment plan

FIFA is reportedly evaluating a major expansion of the Men's FIFA World Cup, increasing the tournament from 48 teams to 64 teams for the 2030 edition. The proposal has already sparked widespread debate across the global football community.

According to reports, FIFA has launched a fast-track consultation and commissioned an impact assessment covering tournament revenue, sponsorship, broadcasting rights, ticket sales, player welfare, scheduling, and the international football calendar.

The 2030 FIFA World Cup will be primarily hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, with centenary opening matches scheduled in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Expanding to 64 teams could allow South American host nations to stage full group-stage matches instead of only ceremonial opening fixtures.

FIFA Plans 64-Team World Cup By 2030? |Expansion Proposal Sparks Global Backlash & Governance Debate

Amid criticism over its proposed private investment plan, FIFA said it will continue an "open and democratic" consultation process with football stakeholders, adding that recent discussions were disrupted by "incorrect media" reports. The statement came after UEFA said it could consider boycotting the World Cup in protest against FIFA’s proposal to create a commercial subsidiary that would manage its major tournaments and allow private investors to buy ownership stakes in the company.&nbsp;FIFA said all 211 member associations should be given the opportunity to study and evaluate the proposal before any decision is made.&nbsp;“Nobody is selling football,” FIFA said in the statement. “This is not something FIFA would ever entertain.”&nbsp;FIFA also acknowledged the concerns raised by football confederations, including UEFA and CONCACAF.&nbsp;“We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation,” the statement said. “Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports. We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each (member association) has the ability to express its vote based on facts.”&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-is-seema-kaliramna-the-mother-and-phd-scholar-who-clinched-cwg-2026-bronze-1785476485848">Who is Seema Kaliramna? The mother and PhD scholar who clinched CWG 2026 bronze</a>&nbsp;According to FIFA, the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative could generate up to $4.2 billion, based on an estimated company valuation of $20 billion.&nbsp;“Everyone has the right to express their opposition and to seek further clarification but no single entity can claim to represent all 211 MAs around the world. Each MA should be allowed to review the proposal and have a say in shaping their own future. These are the democratic principles of FIFA,” the statement added.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/commonwealth-games-2026-day-9-india-s-full-schedule-medal-events-and-match-timings-1785469600152">CWG 2026 Day 9: India's full schedule, medal events and match timings</a>&nbsp;If approved, each of FIFA’s 211 member associations would receive a one-time payment of $20 million in early 2027. Their funding for the 2027-2030 cycle would also increase from $8 million to $20 million.&nbsp;“⁠Without the support of the majority of MAs, FIFA’s commercial activities would remain unchanged. FFE would not be established,” FIFA said.

UEFA has warned it could boycott the World Cup if FIFA goes ahead with its proposal to create a commercial subsidiary to manage its major tournaments.

Amid criticism over its proposed private investment plan, FIFA said it will continue an "open and democratic" consultation process with football stakeholders, adding that recent discussions were disrupted by "incorrect media" reports. The statement came after UEFA said it could consider boycotting the World Cup in protest against FIFA’s proposal to create a commercial subsidiary that would manage its major tournaments and allow private investors to buy ownership stakes in the company. FIFA said all 211 member associations should be given the opportunity to study and evaluate the proposal before any decision is made. “Nobody is selling football,” FIFA said in the statement. “This is not something FIFA would ever entertain.” FIFA also acknowledged the concerns raised by football confederations, including UEFA and CONCACAF. “We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation,” the statement said. “Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports. We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each (member association) has the ability to express its vote based on facts.” Also Read - Who is Seema Kaliramna? The mother and PhD scholar who clinched CWG 2026 bronze According to FIFA, the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative could generate up to $4.2 billion, based on an estimated company valuation of $20 billion. “Everyone has the right to express their opposition and to seek further clarification but no single entity can claim to represent all 211 MAs around the world. Each MA should be allowed to review the proposal and have a say in shaping their own future. These are the democratic principles of FIFA,” the statement added. Also Read - CWG 2026 Day 9: India's full schedule, medal events and match timings If approved, each of FIFA’s 211 member associations would receive a one-time payment of $20 million in early 2027. Their funding for the 2027-2030 cycle would also increase from $8 million to $20 million. “⁠Without the support of the majority of MAs, FIFA’s commercial activities would remain unchanged. FFE would not be established,” FIFA said.

UEFA has warned it could boycott the World Cup if FIFA goes ahead with its proposal to create a commercial subsidiary to manage its major tournaments.

'Nobody is selling football': FIFA clarifies investment plan amid backlash

UEFA has threatened to boycott FIFA tournaments if FIFA President Gianni Infantino proceeds with a proposal to sell a minority stake in the FIFA World Cup to private investors. During an emergency meeting, UEFA's 55 member associations unanimously rejected the plan, warning that no UEFA national team would participate in FIFA competitions unless the proposal is completely withdrawn. FIFA argues the move would unlock billions of dollars in commercial value, while UEFA says it risks the integrity and governance of world football.

UEFA Threatens FIFA Boycott Over Infantino's World Cup Investment Plan | World Football News

The European Football governing body UEFA has called an emergency meeting to discuss the recent proposal by FIFA President Gianni Infantino to launch a new subsidiary that will have a stake in the World Cup. UEFA has strongly opposed the proposal and has put a possible world cup boycott on the cards.

UEFA Holds Emergency Meeting After Infantino Defends Privatisation Plan | Wion Sports 

Welcome to Wion Dispatch. Here are the biggest stories making headlines from India and around the world.

The government has responded to Rahul Gandhi's allegations against Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the student protest crackdown. Union Minister Jitendra Singh rejected the claims, saying only authorised officials such as magistrates can issue such orders.

Meanwhile, tensions continue in West Asia as Israel accuses Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire after an alleged drone attack on an Israeli vehicle in southern Lebanon. Iran's Parliament Deputy Speaker has also warned that the Strait of Hormuz will not return to its previous status, stressing Iran's control over the strategic waterway.

In Washington, the US Senate advances legislation targeting Russia's energy revenues, including tougher sanctions and measures against countries buying Russian oil and gas.

Spain continues battling a major wildfire near Madrid, with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez saying the next few hours will be crucial.

In sports, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has proposed financial incentives for member associations backing a controversial plan involving stakes in major competitions.

Rahul Gandhi vs Government Over Student Protest Row | Hezbollah Ceasefire Clash |Iran Hormuz Warning

As India gears up for the FIFA World Cup 2026 final between Argentina and Spain, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has thanked Zee TV for promoting football across the country. From nationwide watch parties to youth football initiatives, India's passion for the beautiful game continues to grow as millions prepare for the biggest match in world football.

World Cup 2026 Final | Gianni Infantino Praises Zee TV for Promoting Football Across India

In today’s top headlines, Russia launches one of its heaviest missile attacks on Kyiv, while Iran warns the United States of a "devastating response" as tensions escalate in the Gulf. The US continues strikes on Iranian military facilities linked to attacks on American troops in Jordan. In India, opposition leaders stage a symbolic walkout during the all-party meeting, and flash floods in Jammu & Kashmir’s Poonch district leave multiple people dead. Meanwhile, Spain battles massive wildfires, the crypto market extends its decline, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino thanks ZeeTV for promoting football in India ahead of the Spain vs Argentina FIFA World Cup Final.

Russia pounds Kyiv | Iran warns us | J&K flash floods | FIFA chief thanks zeetv | russia- Ukraine

FIFA is set to consider expanding the men's World Cup to 64 teams after the 2026 edition, with President Gianni Infantino saying the move would give more countries from around the world a chance to compete. The proposal was first put forward last year and FIFA will now assess whether the success of the new 48-team format makes further expansion possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;"That's definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup," Infantino told Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport when asked about the possibility of expanding the tournament.&nbsp;&nbsp;"When organising a World Cup, it's important to organize it for the whole world - not just Europe and South America, but effectively the entire world. Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup. "You can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high, and it's getting higher and higher, all over the world. If you don't give smaller countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they'll lack the incentive to keep improving."&nbsp;<h2>What could be the biggest advantages and challenges of expanding the FIFA World Cup to 64 teams?</h2>A 64-team World Cup could give more countries a chance to play on the biggest stage and could help grow football in developing nations and bring more money through extra matches, sponsorships and broadcasting deals. However, it could also mean more pressure on players, bigger organising challenges, higher costs and concerns about the quality of games.&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul><li>Simpler group stage: A 64-team format could make qualification easier to understand, with only the top two teams from each group moving ahead.</li><li>More importance to every match: Teams would have more pressure to perform in every group game, as there would be fewer chances to qualify.</li><li>More matches, tougher scheduling: A 64-team World Cup would increase the number of games, making it harder to schedule matches at convenient times for fans across different time zones.</li><li>Longer tournament, more pressure: More fixtures would add to the workload of players and could make the competition harder to manage.</li><li>Fewer possible hosts: Hosting a 64-team World Cup would require many stadiums, facilities and infrastructure, meaning only few countries may be able to host it alone.</li></ul><h2>How a 64-team World Cup could boost chances for smaller nations</h2>Expanding the FIFA World Cup to 64 teams would add more qualification spots, giving more teams from Asia, Africa and smaller football nations a chance to play in the tournament. It would help make the competition more global and allow emerging teams that have missed out in the past to compete at the highest level.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-is-kylian-mbappe-fit-for-the-semifinal-clash-against-spain-1784024658952">FIFA World Cup 2026: Is Kylian Mbappe fit for the semifinal clash against Spain?</a>

FIFA World Cup 2026 Live on Zee5

<h2>How could a bigger World Cup impact players, clubs and the football calendar?</h2>A 64-team World Cup would add more matches to an already crowded football calendar, increasing player injury risks. Clubs could also face challenges as they may have to release players for longer periods, affecting pre-season plans and domestic competitions.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-wc-2026-spain-vs-france-sf-when-and-where-to-watch-live-streaming-in-india-1784022493641">FIFA WC 26, Spain vs France SF: When and where to watch live streaming in India?</a>&nbsp;A bigger tournament would require either a longer schedule or more compact fixtures, creating difficulties for leagues and international tournaments. FIFA will need to carefully review these factors before making a final decision.&nbsp;<h2>Will a bigger World Cup boost global football or reduce competition quality?</h2>A 64-team World Cup could give more nations from Asia, Africa and other regions a chance to compete, helping football grow globally and increasing fan engagement.&nbsp;However, some believe that it could reduce match quality, increase the risk of injuries and create scheduling challenges.

FIFA is set to review a proposal to expand the men’s World Cup to 64 teams after the 2026 edition, with President Gianni Infantino aiming to give more nations a chance to compete.

FIFA is set to consider expanding the men's World Cup to 64 teams after the 2026 edition, with President Gianni Infantino saying the move would give more countries from around the world a chance to compete. The proposal was first put forward last year and FIFA will now assess whether the success of the new 48-team format makes further expansion possible. "That's definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup," Infantino told Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport when asked about the possibility of expanding the tournament. "When organising a World Cup, it's important to organize it for the whole world - not just Europe and South America, but effectively the entire world. Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup. "You can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high, and it's getting higher and higher, all over the world. If you don't give smaller countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they'll lack the incentive to keep improving." What could be the biggest advantages and challenges of expanding the FIFA World Cup to 64 teams? A 64-team World Cup could give more countries a chance to play on the biggest stage and could help grow football in developing nations and bring more money through extra matches, sponsorships and broadcasting deals. However, it could also mean more pressure on players, bigger organising challenges, higher costs and concerns about the quality of games. Simpler group stage: A 64-team format could make qualification easier to understand, with only the top two teams from each group moving ahead. More importance to every match: Teams would have more pressure to perform in every group game, as there would be fewer chances to qualify. More matches, tougher scheduling: A 64-team World Cup would increase the number of games, making it harder to schedule matches at convenient times for fans across different time zones. Longer tournament, more pressure: More fixtures would add to the workload of players and could make the competition harder to manage. Fewer possible hosts: Hosting a 64-team World Cup would require many stadiums, facilities and infrastructure, meaning only few countries may be able to host it alone. How a 64-team World Cup could boost chances for smaller nations Expanding the FIFA World Cup to 64 teams would add more qualification spots, giving more teams from Asia, Africa and smaller football nations a chance to play in the tournament. It would help make the competition more global and allow emerging teams that have missed out in the past to compete at the highest level. Also Read - FIFA World Cup 2026: Is Kylian Mbappe fit for the semifinal clash against Spain?

FIFA is set to review a proposal to expand the men’s World Cup to 64 teams after the 2026 edition, with President Gianni Infantino aiming to give more nations a chance to compete.

Will FIFA expand the World Cup to 64 teams? Here's how it could work

One of the most noticeable features of 2026 FIFA World Cup television coverage has been the frequent appearance of FIFA president Gianni Infantino during live broadcasts. Typically shown before the first hydration break or at key moments during matches, Infantino has become a regular fixture on the global broadcast feed. Similar coverage was seen during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, when reports claimed television crews received guidance to ensure the FIFA president appeared on screen during games and was not shown using his mobile phone.&nbsp;During the current World Cup, Infantino has attempted to attend two matches per day throughout the group stage by traveling between host cities aboard a private jet supplied by Qatar Airways, one of FIFA's official sponsors. On June 11, Infantino watched the tournament opener between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City before flying approximately 285 miles to Guadalajara to attend South Korea's match against the Czech Republic later the same day. A few days later, on June 15, he attended Belgium's group-stage match against Egypt in Seattle before traveling to Los Angeles for Iran's game against New Zealand that evening.&nbsp;The World Cup's official television coverage is produced by Host Broadcast Services (HBS), which operates from offices in Switzerland, London and Miami. HBS is 49 per cent owned by FIFA, while the majority stake belongs to Infront, a company owned by China's Wanda Group. HBS supplies the international broadcast feed used by television rights holders worldwide, including Fox Sports and Telemundo in the United States, as well as the BBC and ITV in the United Kingdom. Broadcasters are required to use this centralized feed, meaning they do not independently choose when to show Infantino during matches.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dutch-referee-rob-dieperink-dies-aged-38-after-being-dropped-from-fifa-wc-officiating-list-1783970132258">Dutch referee Rob Dieperink dies aged 38 after being dropped from FIFA WC officiating list</a>

FIFA World Cup 2026

FIFA has denied instructing broadcasters to focus specifically on its president during games. However, the organisation confirmed there is an agreement requiring at least one ‘dignitary shot\’ in each half to highlight senior football officials and other VIP guests attending matches. These shots may feature heads of state, football confederation leaders, celebrities or senior football administrators. During Saturday's match against Norway, for example, Norway's Crown Prince Haakon appeared alongside Infantino during one of these broadcast segments.&nbsp;A FIFA spokesperson told The Athletic, “It is standard practice for seats which include football officials, public figures and celebrities to be shown as part of the match running order, whoever they may be.” Despite attending every match at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Infantino has not managed to be present at every game during the current tournament. With more than 100 matches played across North America's vast geography and multiple time zones, attending every fixture has proven impossible.&nbsp;Such frequent television appearances by football executives are uncommon in other competitions. In the Premier League, broadcasters are not expected to regularly show chief executive Richard Masters during matches, while UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin is generally only featured during major occasions such as the UEFA Champions League final rather than throughout the season.&nbsp;Infantino's high-profile television presence comes as he prepares to seek a third term as FIFA president in 2027. If re-elected, his tenure would extend until 2031, marking 15 years in charge of world football. Currently, no rival candidate has emerged to challenge his leadership. Infantino has already secured public backing from the African, Asian and South American football confederations, representing 110 of FIFA's 211 member associations.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">FIFA President Gianni Infantino applauds the second goal of the day by the Dutch <a href="https://t.co/RNBTedWJ1a">pic.twitter.com/RNBTedWJ1a</a>&mdash; FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https://x.com/FOXSoccer/status/2068386393777459345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

However, criticism of FIFA continues in some quarters. Several national associations have expressed concerns over refereeing standards, disciplinary decisions and the organization's handling of political issues during the tournament, including criticism related to its relationship with US President Donald Trump and travel restrictions that affected supporters from several participating nations. Whether those issues influence FIFA's leadership race ahead of the 2027 election remains uncertain.

Why does Gianni Infantino appear so often during FIFA World Cup broadcasts? Here's how FIFA's TV policy works and why it matters before the 2027 election

One of the most noticeable features of 2026 FIFA World Cup television coverage has been the frequent appearance of FIFA president Gianni Infantino during live broadcasts. Typically shown before the first hydration break or at key moments during matches, Infantino has become a regular fixture on the global broadcast feed. Similar coverage was seen during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, when reports claimed television crews received guidance to ensure the FIFA president appeared on screen during games and was not shown using his mobile phone. During the current World Cup, Infantino has attempted to attend two matches per day throughout the group stage by traveling between host cities aboard a private jet supplied by Qatar Airways, one of FIFA's official sponsors. On June 11, Infantino watched the tournament opener between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City before flying approximately 285 miles to Guadalajara to attend South Korea's match against the Czech Republic later the same day. A few days later, on June 15, he attended Belgium's group-stage match against Egypt in Seattle before traveling to Los Angeles for Iran's game against New Zealand that evening. The World Cup's official television coverage is produced by Host Broadcast Services (HBS), which operates from offices in Switzerland, London and Miami. HBS is 49 per cent owned by FIFA, while the majority stake belongs to Infront, a company owned by China's Wanda Group. HBS supplies the international broadcast feed used by television rights holders worldwide, including Fox Sports and Telemundo in the United States, as well as the BBC and ITV in the United Kingdom. Broadcasters are required to use this centralized feed, meaning they do not independently choose when to show Infantino during matches. Also Read: Dutch referee Rob Dieperink dies aged 38 after being dropped from FIFA WC officiating list

President Gianni Infantino's frequent World Cup TV appearances stem from FIFA's broadcast policy as he seeks a third presidential term in 2027

Why FIFA President Gianni Infantino appears so often during World Cup broadcasts

FIFA will examine proposals to expand the men's FIFA World Cup to 64 teams after the 2026 tournament, with President Gianni Infantino insisting the competition should be accessible to nations from every region of the world. The proposal for a 64-team World Cup was first raised last year, and Infantino believes the success of the expanded 48-team format provides an opportunity to assess whether another increase is feasible.&nbsp;"That's definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup," Infantino told Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport when asked about the possibility of expanding the tournament. "When organising a World Cup, it's important to organize it for the whole world - not just Europe and South America, but effectively the entire world. Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup. "You can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high, and it's getting higher and higher, all over the world. If you don't give smaller countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they'll lack the incentive to keep improving."&nbsp;Infantino described the first 48-team World Cup as a major success, highlighting the improved representation of African nations.“At the last World Cup, there were only five teams from Africa. That just goes to show how important it is to include all teams - to give them this opportunity to participate.” FIFA officially approved the expansion from 32 to 48 teams in 2017, with the new format debuting at the 2026 World Cup. An official proposal to increase the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams was submitted by South American football body CONMEBOL in April 2025. However, FIFA has yet to make a decision.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wimbledon-2026-jannik-sinner-beats-alexander-zverev-to-clinch-second-consecutive-title-1783881351373">Wimbledon 2026: Jannik Sinner beats Alexander Zverev to clinch second consecutive title</a>&nbsp;The 2030 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, while Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay will stage the opening matches as part of celebrations marking the tournament's centenary. Despite growing discussion around expansion, several influential football leaders have voiced their opposition. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has described the proposal as a ‘bad idea’, arguing it would negatively impact both the tournament and the qualification process.&nbsp;Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa also warned that any further expansion could create 'chaos'. Concacaf president Victor Montagliani questioned the proposal, saying it 'doesn't feel right' and warning it could damage ‘the broader football ecosystem’. Meanwhile, Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House's World Cup Task Force, said the United States could consider bidding to host the 2038 World Cup and would be capable of staging a 64-team tournament if approved.&nbsp;FIFA has maintained that it is obligated to review any formal proposals submitted by council members and will continue consulting stakeholders before making a decision. The FIFA Council will ultimately decide whether to expand the competition, although there is currently no indication that a decision will be made in the immediate future.<h2>Expansion presents major hosting challenges</h2>Since taking office in 2016, Infantino has consistently supported expanding the World Cup. His original proposal called for increasing the tournament from 32 to 40 teams before FIFA ultimately approved the larger 48-team format, which debuted in 2026. Hosting an even larger competition presents significant logistical challenges.&nbsp;The 2026 World Cup is staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico, while the 2030 edition will span across three continents. Questions also remain over whether Saudi Arabia, the planned host of the 2034 World Cup, could successfully stage a 64-team tournament featuring 128 matches.&nbsp;Supporters of expansion argue that it would allow nearly one-third of FIFA's 211 member associations to qualify for the World Cup, giving more nations the opportunity to compete on football's biggest stage. A larger tournament would also generate additional commercial revenue, increasing the financial distributions available to FIFA's member associations worldwide.

FIFA will assess plans for a 64-team men's World Cup after the 2026 tournament. Read Gianni Infantino's comments, expansion proposal details, reactions from UEFA, AFC and Concacaf, and what it could mean for future FIFA World Cups

FIFA will examine proposals to expand the men's FIFA World Cup to 64 teams after the 2026 tournament, with President Gianni Infantino insisting the competition should be accessible to nations from every region of the world. The proposal for a 64-team World Cup was first raised last year, and Infantino believes the success of the expanded 48-team format provides an opportunity to assess whether another increase is feasible. "That's definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup," Infantino told Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport when asked about the possibility of expanding the tournament. "When organising a World Cup, it's important to organize it for the whole world - not just Europe and South America, but effectively the entire world. Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup. "You can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high, and it's getting higher and higher, all over the world. If you don't give smaller countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they'll lack the incentive to keep improving." Infantino described the first 48-team World Cup as a major success, highlighting the improved representation of African nations. “At the last World Cup, there were only five teams from Africa. That just goes to show how important it is to include all teams - to give them this opportunity to participate.” FIFA officially approved the expansion from 32 to 48 teams in 2017, with the new format debuting at the 2026 World Cup. An official proposal to increase the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams was submitted by South American football body CONMEBOL in April 2025. However, FIFA has yet to make a decision. Also Read: Wimbledon 2026: Jannik Sinner beats Alexander Zverev to clinch second consecutive title The 2030 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, while Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay will stage the opening matches as part of celebrations marking the tournament's centenary. Despite growing discussion around expansion, several influential football leaders have voiced their opposition. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has described the proposal as a ‘bad idea’, arguing it would negatively impact both the tournament and the qualification process. Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa also warned that any further expansion could create 'chaos'. Concacaf president Victor Montagliani questioned the proposal, saying it 'doesn't feel right' and warning it could damage ‘the broader football ecosystem’. Meanwhile, Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House's World Cup Task Force, said the United States could consider bidding to host the 2038 World Cup and would be capable of staging a 64-team tournament if approved. FIFA has maintained that it is obligated to review any formal proposals submitted by council members and will continue consulting stakeholders before making a decision. The FIFA Council will ultimately decide whether to expand the competition, although there is currently no indication that a decision will be made in the immediate future. Expansion presents major hosting challenges Since taking office in 2016, Infantino has consistently supported expanding the World Cup. His original proposal called for increasing the tournament from 32 to 40 teams before FIFA ultimately approved the larger 48-team format, which debuted in 2026. Hosting an even larger competition presents significant logistical challenges. The 2026 World Cup is staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico, while the 2030 edition will span across three continents. Questions also remain over whether Saudi Arabia, the planned host of the 2034 World Cup, could successfully stage a 64-team tournament featuring 128 matches. Supporters of expansion argue that it would allow nearly one-third of FIFA's 211 member associations to qualify for the World Cup, giving more nations the opportunity to compete on football's biggest stage. A larger tournament would also generate additional commercial revenue, increasing the financial distributions available to FIFA's member associations worldwide.

FIFA will review a proposal to expand the men's World Cup to 64 teams after 2026 as President Gianni Infantino pushes for greater global inclusion

FIFA's next big move? Gianni Infantino opens door to a 64-team World Cup. Everything you need to know

US president Donald Trump has finally revealed what exactly he had said to FIFA cheif Gianni Infantino which eventually results in USA footballer Folarin Balogun's red-card punishment being suspended. Balogun eventually played in the USA's Round of 16 FIFA World Cup 2026 match againsy Belgium on Monday (Jul 6) but the co-hosts crashed out with 1-4 defeat. There was a huge uproar about allowing him to play including from Belgium and UEFA as well. Trump, earlier on Monday (Jul 6), said he didn't think "Balogun made a foul."<h2>What did Trump say to Infantino on call to get Balogun's red card suspended?</h2>Trump, for the first time, gave a detailed statement on what he told FIFA chief Infantino about Balogun's red card during a phone call. The US president, from the Oval Office, said: "All I did was ask for a review. I didn’t say, ‘You have to do this'."

Trump described the incident which led to the red card as "two guys running full speed that happened to crash into each other.”“He didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t tell him (Infantino_ what to do, I can’t tell him what to do," Trump added while acknowledging that an independent committee eventually "made the right decision."Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-mbappe-responds-to-paraguay-s-depicable-woman-senator-for-racist-attack-on-him-1783398218023">FIFA 2026 | Mbappe responds to Paraguay's 'depicable woman' senator for racist attack on him</a><h2>What did FIFA chief say about call with Trump?</h2>FIFA chief Gianni Infantino also posted a lengthy <a href="https://x.com/fifamedia/status/2074160315562885122">statement on X</a> about the call with Trump and insisted that the decision to suspend Balogun's red card was taken by an independent committee of the sports global body."I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues," read part of his statement."I read the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they are issued. Sometimes I am surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree," he added.<h2>What now for the USA?</h2>After the loss against Belgium, the USA joined Canada, and Mexico in being ousted from the ongoing World Cup which is being co-hosted by these three countries. Canada lost to Morocco in Round of 16 while Mexico lost to England.

Trump, for the first time, gave a detailed statement on what he told FIFA chief Infantino about Balogun's red card during a phone call. The US president, from the Oval Office, said: "All I did was ask for a review. I didn’t say, ‘You have to do this'."

US president Donald Trump has finally revealed what exactly he had said to FIFA cheif Gianni Infantino which eventually results in USA footballer Folarin Balogun's red-card punishment being suspended. Balogun eventually played in the USA's Round of 16 FIFA World Cup 2026 match againsy Belgium on Monday (Jul 6) but the co-hosts crashed out with 1-4 defeat. There was a huge uproar about allowing him to play including from Belgium and UEFA as well. Trump, earlier on Monday (Jul 6), said he didn't think "Balogun made a foul." What did Trump say to Infantino on call to get Balogun's red card suspended? Trump, for the first time, gave a detailed statement on what he told FIFA chief Infantino about Balogun's red card during a phone call. The US president, from the Oval Office, said: "All I did was ask for a review. I didn’t say, ‘You have to do this'."

Trump, for the first time, gave a detailed statement on what he told FIFA chief Infantino about Balogun's red card during a phone call. The US president, from the Oval Office, said: "All I did was ask for a review. I didn’t say, ‘You have to do this'."

FIFA 2026 | US President Trump reveals details of his call to FIFA chief Infantino about Balogun's red card