FIFA President Gianni Infantino faced unprecedented backlash after proposing a structural reform of the World Cup that involved selling part of the tournament to private investors. Under mounting pressure, Infantino announced on August 1, 2026, that he was withdrawing this controversial plan. The proposal had caused significant internal unrest, leading to resignations within his team.

In related football news, the Ivorian Football Federation declared it will not renew Emerse Faé's contract as manager of the Ivory Coast Elephants, which expired on August 1, 2026. Faé led the team to victory in the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations and a historic run at the 2026 World Cup.

Meanwhile, the football community in Italy is mourning the death of Franco Baresi, a legendary figure in the sport, who passed away at the age of 66.

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