FIFA President Gianni Infantino survived a crisis meeting in Rabat after the governing body apologised to its 211 member associations over an abandoned proposal to sell a share of the World Cup’s commercial future. FIFA said the proposal should have been handled differently and promised a review of the process that led to the controversy.
The meeting temporarily strengthened Infantino’s position ahead of FIFA’s March presidential election in Morocco, where he will seek a fourth term through 2031. But criticism from UEFA, European leagues, several confederations and national associations has shifted the focus to how FIFA makes and communicates major decisions.
At a glance:
- FIFA abandoned a proposal to create the FIFA Forward Enterprise, which it valued at $20bn and envisioned controlling commercial and tournament operations through at least 2038.
- A review will be conducted before a report is presented to the FIFA Council at its next meeting.
- UEFA has issued FIFA a document procurement letter, while European Leagues has called for FIFA governance reform.
- Infantino remains publicly supported by FIFA’s management board and secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom, with no viable challenger yet emerging.
What FIFA promised to review
FIFA said its review would examine the processes behind the failed commercial-rights proposal. The organisation maintained that the actions complied with its regulations, while acknowledging that the process and communications were mishandled and that the FIFA Council and member associations should not have felt excluded.
Related coverage: FIFA’s proposal to sell minority stakes in World Cup faces UEFA backlash.
The review is due to produce a report for the council at its next meeting. That commitment came after national federations complained they had been sidelined and after the proposal triggered the fiercest internal revolt of Infantino’s decade-long tenure.
Why UEFA and European leagues remain opposed
UEFA has openly questioned Infantino’s leadership and confirmed that it sent FIFA a document procurement letter. The measure is intended to prevent the deletion or destruction of material that could be used as evidence before possible legal action.
European Leagues, which represents more than 1,300 European clubs and includes the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A, has called the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise dangerous. It also criticised a four-week assessment timeline for a separate proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup from 48 to 64 teams, saying stakeholders are too often presented with decisions instead of being consulted.
More context: Uefa faces critical moment to challenge Fifa’s new World Cup funding scheme.
Infantino’s political position before the election
FIFA’s management board and Grafstrom publicly endorsed Infantino at the Rabat meeting, and Infantino praised the administration in return. Grafstrom had earlier described a “sad and reproachable series of events” in an internal staff memo, but public signs of tension were set aside at the meeting.
Infantino continues to receive strong backing from many smaller associations, particularly in Africa and Asia, where FIFA development funding is central to national football programmes. He appears politically well placed because no viable challenger has emerged, although UEFA’s opposition could still influence the presidential contest.
Other disputes surrounding the crisis
FIFA denied a report that Infantino had promised Morocco the final of the 2030 World Cup in exchange for presidential support. The organisation said no decision had been made. Morocco hopes to host the final at the planned 115,000-seat King Hassan II Stadium near Casablanca, while stadiums in Madrid and Barcelona are contenders in Spain.
Also read: Gianni Infantino Defends 2026 World Cup, Addresses Criticism and Safety Concerns.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he no longer had confidence in Infantino, arguing that the FIFA president committed a fatal governance failure by not consulting senior advisers. Portugal and former Real Madrid player Luis Figo also called for Infantino to step down.
Questions readers ask
What happens next with FIFA’s abandoned commercial proposal?
FIFA will conduct a review of the processes that produced the proposal and present a report to the FIFA Council at its next meeting.
Will Infantino face a challenger in the presidential election?
Infantino is seeking a fourth term through 2031, and the source says no viable challenger has emerged before the election. FIFA’s deadline for candidates to declare is November 18.
Related coverage:
No comments yet. Start the discussion.