Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, is under renewed scrutiny after two senior FIFA officials—Secretary General Mattias Grafström and Chief of Global Football Development Arsene Wenger—criticized his recently abandoned plan to sell a stake in the World Cup. This internal opposition raises questions about Infantino's previously expected unopposed run for a fourth term as FIFA president in March 2027.

The criticisms from Grafström and Wenger highlight significant dissent within FIFA’s leadership regarding the governance and commercial strategy of the World Cup. Infantino’s plan, which has now been scrapped, aimed to monetize part of the tournament by selling a stake, a move that has not been well received by some of the organization’s top officials.

The developments suggest that Infantino could face fresh challenges in the upcoming presidential election, signaling a shift in FIFA’s internal dynamics.

Sources