FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing mounting criticism over his handling of the 2026 World Cup and his proposal to expand the tournament to 64 teams.

Infantino, who recently met with US President Donald Trump at Trump Tower in New York on July 17, 2026, has been accused by La Liga chief Javier Tebas of "destroying the football industry" by prioritizing the World Cup over domestic leagues. Tebas called the expansion plan "irresponsible" and said it "makes no sense." After ten years leading football's governing body, Tebas declared that Infantino's "time is up."

Infantino's predecessor, Sepp Blatter, has also called for new leadership, stating that the tournament lost credibility when it allowed political interference, specifically citing US President Trump's involvement in disciplinary decisions. Blatter warned, "Politics must not be allowed to overshadow the game."

Despite the criticism, the vast majority of FIFA's 211 member associations have endorsed Infantino for re-election in March, where he is expected to run unopposed.

Sources