UEFA has signalled that it may pursue legal avenues, arbitration or formal complaints against FIFA in response to Gianni Infantino's aborted plan to commercialise World Cup assets. In a letter dated 31 July, addressed directly to Infantino, the European governing body warned that it is "actively considering legal action, arbitration, and/or regulatory complaints" concerning the now‑scrapped initiative. The correspondence also instructed senior FIFA officials to preserve any documentation that could become evidence in future proceedings, underscoring the seriousness of UEFA’s stance. The warning follows a rapid erosion of confidence in Infantino’s leadership after the botched attempt to sell minority stakes in the tournament.
The English Football Association, which had previously backed Infantino’s re‑election, is preparing a new letter to withdraw that support. This move is part of a coordinated European effort to force the FIFA president out of office as quickly as possible.
The Welsh FA was the first association to publicly rescind its endorsement, with the Swedish federation following suit shortly thereafter. Over the coming days, additional federations are expected to issue similar statements, amplifying the pressure on Infantino. Despite the mounting criticism, Infantino has shown no inclination to step down. Instead, he has been courting the federations that remain loyal—primarily those in Africa, Asia and South America—in an attempt to shore up his position.
Even if he manages to survive the immediate crisis, analysts predict that he will face at least one challenger in the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March in Morocco. A U.S. government spokesperson dismissed a New York Post report that claimed Infantino was due to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday in an effort to safeguard his job. Rubio had attended the opening match of the World Cup in Los Angeles alongside Infantino in June.
The same tabloid also alleged that Infantino had been trying, without success, to reach former President Donald Trump by phone since the previous Friday. Both claims were denied by official sources. Sky News sports correspondent Rob Harris offered an analysis of the unfolding drama.
He suggested that UEFA’s recent statements—first a boycott announcement on Thursday and then a legal threat on Saturday—have failed to compel Infantino to resign. Harris recalled being in Wales in February when Infantino attended an IFAB meeting hosted by the Football Association of Wales, noting the strategic importance of the FA and FAW because they control two of the eight IFAB votes. He argued that Infantino has not offered the contrition or concrete reforms that UEFA and other European bodies demand, such as transparent decision‑making and safeguards against secretive deals.
Nevertheless, Infantino still enjoys support from several powerful constituencies, including African federations, Middle‑Eastern partners, Qatar and Morocco. He appears to be mobilising political goodwill from these allies, presenting the revised plan as a response to global feedback. Harris pointed out that, despite the lingering questions about Infantino’s tenure, the FA had continued to back his re‑election until this latest reversal, which he described as the "final straw." The situation raises the question of whether a vote of no confidence might be forced before the March election, echoing the 2015 resignation of Sepp Blatter under similar pressure.
Harris noted that Infantino’s inner circle is shrinking, leaving him with fewer options to navigate the crisis. The original proposal, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), aimed to raise up to $4.2 billion (£3.1 billion) from external investors by selling minority, non‑controlling stakes in the new commercial vehicle.
FIFA had valued FFE at roughly $20 billion (£15 billion) and claimed the proceeds could fund more than $10 billion in football development projects over four years, pending approval from member associations. The plan was presented as a way to inject fresh capital into the sport, but critics argued it compromised the integrity of the governing body. Sky Sports chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol noted that Nasser Al‑Khelaifi, the president of Paris Saint‑Germain and a powerful figure on UEFA’s executive committee, has been mentioned in speculation about a possible replacement for Infantino, though Al‑Khelaifi himself has denied any interest in the role. Other potential contenders have emerged.
Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al‑Khalifa, who finished second in the 2015 FIFA presidential race and now leads the Asian Football Confederation, has publicly opposed the sell‑off. Victor Montagliani, president of CONCACAF, also rejected the proposal despite the recent World Cup being hosted in three CONCACAF nations.
Perhaps the most prominent name is Aleksander Čeferin, UEFA’s own president, whose vision for football governance diverges sharply from Infantino’s. Čeferin has advocated for eliminating practices such as mid‑match hydration breaks, the FIFA Peace Prize, private jets for the president, and the inflated $1 million (£742,000) World Cup ticket prices.
However, Čeferin has not expressed any formal ambition to run for the FIFA presidency. In summary, Infantino is under unprecedented pressure from European federations, the FA, and a growing coalition of critics. While he continues to lean on support from Africa, the Middle East and select allies, the loss of backing from key European bodies may prove decisive.
The coming weeks will likely determine whether he can retain his position until the scheduled election in Morocco or whether a collective move—perhaps a formal vote of no confidence—will force a leadership change before then.