As the 2026 World Cup wrapped up just last month, you’d think FIFA would take a step back, letting fans shift their focus back to club football. But nope! FIFA has been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. In late July, the football governing body announced a plan to invite private investors to jump on board a new subsidiary called the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which was set to manage all commercial operations, including the prestigious World Cup. This idea, which FIFA claimed could rake in a whopping $4.2 billion based on an initial $20 billion valuation, sent shockwaves and drew fierce backlash from every corner of the football community.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino and his crew quickly scrapped the plan and issued a public apology for the handling of the situation. But even after this mess, Infantino remains adamant about clinging to his role, despite the growing chorus of voices calling for his resignation. The fallout has led to a significant divide among confederations and associations globally.
Now, let’s talk about who’s standing behind Infantino and who’s waving the white flag. The European governing body UEFA has not held back in its criticism, coming down hard on Infantino and the FFE proposal. They made it clear that their 55 member associations would boycott FIFA competitions if the plan wasn’t tossed aside. UEFA stated bluntly that “FIFA changes nothing,” making it clear that “these conditions have not been met.”
The ire against Infantino has escalated, with countries like Wales, Finland, Serbia, and Sweden being among the first to withdraw their support for his re-election bid. The Serbian FA didn’t mince words, calling its decision the “only logical and rational course of action” given the circumstances. This wave of dissent has also seen football associations from England, Norway, Jordan, and Albania join the fray. The Norwegian FA took it a step further, demanding Infantino’s resignation, saying their “trust” had been shattered. Lise Klaveness, the president of the Norwegian FA, voiced this sentiment clearly.
But hang on! Not everyone is against Infantino. He still has some allies in the football world, particularly among associations that operate on tighter budgets, where keeping funds flowing is crucial for competitiveness. Just last Thursday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced its unwavering support for Infantino, committing to uplift African football to be among the best worldwide while sticking to global governance, transparency, and auditing best practices. CAF stated it aims to have injected approximately $1.28 billion into the continent by the end of 2026.
On top of that, Mexico, one of the co-hosts of the World Cup, has also thrown its weight behind Infantino, along with Paraguay and Argentina, the World Cup runners-up. Despite FIFA facing criticism from the Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football, the Mexican Football Federation stood firm, expressing their support for Infantino. Argentina, meanwhile, has praised Infantino for his efforts since taking the presidency in 2016 and even recognized his “mistakes” during his tenure.
So, what’s next for Infantino and FIFA? The football world is watching closely, and the divide among associations only seems to be widening. Will Infantino be able to mend fences, or is this just the tip of the iceberg?
Kaynak: Orijinal Haber