Infantino Calls Crisis Meeting in Morocco
Just seven months before the presidential election, Gianni Infantino faces a rebellion within the organization following a controversial $4.2 billion plan.
Just seven months before the presidential election, Gianni Infantino faces a rebellion within the organization following a controversial $4.2 billion plan.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino held urgent talks with directors of the world football governing body in Morocco on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. The meeting was convened amid mounting pressure and a wave of criticism after FIFA withdrew a controversial commercial restructuring proposal last Saturday, according to AFP citing a source close to the organization.
Infantino is facing the most serious leadership crisis since taking the helm of FIFA. Just seven months before the presidential election in March 2027, what was considered a safe path to a fourth term has now become an uncertain battle for political survival. The main trigger was the proposal, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise, to sell a 20 percent stake in the commercial rights of the World Cup to private investors for $4.2 billion. Additional controversy was sparked by the involvement of a company linked to Donald Trump's family.
The attempt to woo member associations with promises of dividends of $20 to $40 million per federation did not bear fruit. The European football federation (UEFA) sharply condemned Infantino's plan, accusing him of "selling football's soul" and stating that it no longer has confidence in his leadership. Pressure has also escalated from within: Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom, in an internal letter to staff, described the events as deplorable.
Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour was even more direct, stating that employees were misled in a "one-man project." Senior advisor Carlos Cordeiro resigned, and Arsene Wenger, FIFA's head of global development, also publicly distanced himself from the plan. According to Klix.ba, the UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC confederations are reportedly considering radical options, including blocking FIFA's operations or launching their own competitions, if Infantino refuses to step down.
To convene an extraordinary Congress that would decide Infantino's fate, 43 of the 211 member associations must submit a formal written request. Although he finds himself under attack from traditional football power centers, Infantino still counts on support from outside Europe. In addition to the host of the crisis meeting, Morocco, he has the backing of certain Asian and African countries, as well as smaller associations that depend on FIFA's financial aid.
As reported by NBC News, although some confederations still support him, the growing opposition from Europe and parts of Asia and North America has made his re-election campaign far more uncertain. In FIFA's system, where San Marino's vote carries the same weight as Brazil's or Germany's, Infantino faces a ruthless fight for every vote to retain his position until the election in March 2027.
