Archive · 5 Aug 2026
European Leagues Press FIFA's Infantino Over World Cup Sell-off Crisis
Soccer is a sport where teams from countries around the world compete in big tournaments like the World Cup.
A big organization called FIFA, which is world soccer's governing body, helps run the World Cup.
The person in charge of FIFA is Gianni Infantino.
He had a plan to sell part of the World Cup to make money.
Many soccer leaders in Europe, including those who run the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A, thought this was a bad and risky idea.
They said FIFA should change the way it makes decisions and listen to the people who care about soccer.
They also said FIFA should not make the World Cup even bigger than it already is.
Another soccer organization, UEFA, even said it might not take part in the World Cup if the plan went ahead.
Mr. Infantino stepped back from his plan, but many leaders still do not trust him.
They want FIFA to be more open and fair in how it makes decisions.
European Leagues, the association including the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A, called for governance reform of FIFA on Wednesday.
The leagues described FIFA's World Cup stake-selling proposal as 'dangerous,' saying it raised 'serious questions about FIFA's governance, internal culture and decision-making.'
European Leagues said FIFA must not continue taking 'unilaterally disruptive decisions' and would reject the expansion or creation of FIFA competitions until reform.
UEFA, European soccer's governing body, voted to boycott the World Cup if the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan went ahead and said it has lost confidence in FIFA's leadership.
CONCACAF said FIFA leadership had 'stopped putting football first,' while senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned and top officials Arsène Wenger and Mattias Grafström distanced themselves from the FFE plans.
- Who
- Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA; European Leagues, which includes the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A; UEFA; CONCACAF; and senior FIFA officials.
- What
- European leagues demanded FIFA governance reform after the controversial plan to sell World Cup stakes via FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).
- When
- On Wednesday, ahead of FIFA presidential elections in March.
- Where
- Europe, and Rabat, Morocco, where Infantino reportedly met senior staff.
- Why
- Because critics say the 'dangerous' World Cup sell-off plan exposed problems in FIFA's governance, internal culture and decision-making.
European leagues and critics
FIFA leadership under Infantino
World Cup stake sale
European leagues and critics
Selling World Cup stakes through the FFE subsidiary is 'dangerous' and shows FIFA's governance is not putting football first.
FIFA leadership under Infantino
FIFA proposed selling profits from its top competition through the FFE subsidiary that would run tournaments, before Infantino's reported climbdown.
World Cup expansion to 64 teams
European leagues and critics
FIFA must not be allowed to take further unilaterally disruptive decisions, and any expansion of the World Cup should be rejected.
FIFA leadership under Infantino
Expanding the World Cup to 64 teams was under consideration by FIFA as part of its plans for the tournament.
Governance and trust in FIFA
European leagues and critics
FIFA needs governance reform giving stakeholders a formal role in decisions; UEFA has lost confidence in the leadership and CONCACAF says football is no longer put first.
FIFA leadership under Infantino
Infantino backed away from the plans after the backlash, but internal statements from staff including COO Kevin Lamour suggest they were 'deceived' by his lack of openness.
- FIFA President
- Gianni Infantino
- Main Critic
- European Leagues (Premier League, La Liga, Serie A)
- Disputed Plan
- Selling World Cup stakes via FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE)
- Leagues' Demand
- Governance reform; reject expansion or creation of FIFA competitions
- UEFA Response
- World Cup boycott vote; lost confidence in FIFA leadership
- Expansion Concern
- Possible 64-team World Cup
- Resignation
- Senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro
- Next FIFA Election
- March