Three major football confederations have launched a coordinated attack on FIFA President Gianni Infantino over his handling of a now-abandoned proposal to sell commercial rights to the World Cup, calling for an independent review and his potential resignation ahead of March elections.
UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and CONCACAF released a joint open letter on Monday sharply criticizing FIFA President Gianni Infantino's conduct surrounding a controversial proposal to sell a 20% stake in World Cup commercial rights to private investors. The three confederations, representing 136 of FIFA's 211 member associations, accused Infantino of breaking trust "through deception" and placing himself above collective interests. The letter emphasized that football leadership should be a duty of service rather than a demonstration of power.
The confederations called for an independent review—conducted outside FIFA's control—to investigate the failed proposal, which would have generated approximately $4.2 billion. They also demanded guarantees that similar schemes will not be proposed in the future, threatening to boycott FIFA tournaments otherwise. According to sources familiar with the matter, the three bodies view the letter as an opportunity for Infantino to resign with dignity intact. Meanwhile, they are exploring the possibility of organizing alternative competitions among themselves to provide playing opportunities during the governance crisis.
Infantino has received backing from several quarters despite the opposition. U.S. President Donald Trump publicly endorsed him on social media, praising his stewardship of recent World Cups. Africa's confederation CAF announced support from its 54 members, and South American nations including Argentina and Paraguay have also pledged their backing. Approximately 70 FIFA member associations have publicly stated they will vote for Infantino in the March presidential election.
However, the three confederations argue that Infantino's apology for procedural mistakes falls short of acknowledging the proposal's fundamental wrongness. They characterized the stake-sale plan as "a profound failure of judgment" rather than merely a procedural error. FIFA responded by warning against what it termed a "concerted and ongoing effort" to undermine the president, insisting that challenges must follow proper democratic procedures. Potential rival candidates have until November 18 to announce their candidacy for the presidency.
