FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing intensified pressure following a joint letter from three major confederations—UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC—which explicitly stated that football “belongs to no individual.” This collective rebuke follows Infantino’s controversial proposal to introduce private investment into FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, a plan he launched and subsequently withdrew within days.
In response to the criticism, FIFA issued a statement on Saturday, characterizing the actions of these confederations as “a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine” the governing body and its president. The organization insisted that any challenges to leadership must adhere to established statutes and democratic procedures.
The joint letter from the European, North and Central American, and Asian governing bodies signaled that opposition to Infantino remains significant. The confederations argued that leadership is not a personal possession or a demand for power. They noted, “When trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned.”
The three confederations have demanded a fully independent review into the failed stake-sale proposal, specifically excluding FIFA from any role in the investigation to determine the causes of what they termed a “profound failure of judgement.” They also criticized a recent emergency meeting held in Morocco, noting that only one elected official was present.
The call for accountability has gained traction among host nations for the 2026 World Cup. The football federations of the United States and Canada have formally backed the confederations’ statement. US Soccer, Canada Soccer, the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), and the Central American Football Union (UNCAF) issued a joint call for meaningful changes to improve FIFA’s governance, transparency, and accountability.
This stance places the US and Canada in direct opposition to Mexico, the third co-host of the 2026 tournament, which has publicly declared its support for Infantino. Meanwhile, Norwegian Football Federation President Lise Klaveness, who is considered a potential challenger for the presidency, publicly called on the 56-year-old Infantino to resign immediately.
Despite the mounting pressure, Infantino has maintained support among several regions. Following an emergency meeting last Wednesday where internal dissent was managed, FIFA apologized to its 211 member associations. Since then, the African confederation (CAF) and South American nations including Argentina, Paraguay, Ecuador, and Bolivia have voiced their support for the president.
The political climate remains volatile, with approximately 70 of FIFA’s 211 member associations publicly pledging their vote to Infantino. Conversely, about a dozen members have either rescinded their previous support or indicated they will not vote for him. The confederations themselves are not entirely unified; for instance, several Asian nations and Mexico continue to back the incumbent.
The tension is further complicated by recent reports from The Daily Telegraph regarding payments made by UEFA to a former female employee during Infantino’s tenure as general secretary. Infantino has denied these allegations, and FIFA has formally rejected them as unfounded. As the situation develops, the demand for leadership that serves the sport rather than commanding it remains a central theme for the dissenting confederations.
“Football’s strength has always been its unity,” the statement concluded.
On Friday, Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) President Lise Klaveness, seen by some as a potential candidate to replace Infantino, called on the 56-year-old to step down from the presidency immediately.
After quelling in-house dissent at the emergency meeting on Wednesday, FIFA apologised to the 211 federations and Infantino rallied his support among the six confederations that make up the world governing body.
Klaveness has long been an outspoken critic of Infantino.
