UEFA has said it has lost confidence in FIFA’s leadership, following the president’s sudden decision to drop a controversial, high‑profile plan to sell stakes in World Cup competitions to private investors. The confession comes after week‑long debate that had seen UEFA and other football confederations threaten a boycott of the global event.
In a long statement, UEFA welcomed the withdrawal as a ‘victory for the whole game.’ The association said that under Infantino’s leadership the federation has failed to deliver on promises of transparency, citing a 2016 speech in which Infantino vowed that “the money of FIFA is your money” and that any release of funds would serve football’s development, not personal profit.
The announcement follows comments from FIFA’s chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, who said the governing body’s own administration had been misled about the investment project – a claim that prompted the resignation of senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro, who described the scheme as a “bad deal for football” and a threat to the sport’s future.
The fallout has already seen two other confederations join the chorus of criticism, further amplifying calls for better governance and accountability within international football. As the 2026 World Cup approaches, uncertainty remains over how the sport’s top bodies will navigate the breach of trust and potential leadership changes.
