World football governing body FIFA has reaffirmed its support for its president, Gianni Infantino, following a crisis meeting held in Morocco on Wednesday, August 6th, 2026. The meeting came amid increasing calls for Infantino to resign after a controversial plan to sell a 20% stake in a new commercial rights entity was met with fierce backlash and subsequently withdrawn last Friday.

The proposal, which involved a company with family ties to US President Donald Trump, drew sharp criticism. UEFA, European football’s governing body, described the plan as a "shabby, backroom, opaque deal" orchestrated by Infantino. European Leagues also condemned the idea of further expanding the World Cup to 64 teams, stating that “FIFA must not be allowed to continue taking unilaterally disruptive decisions.”

FIFA issued an apology to its member associations for mistakes made regarding the now-shelved proposal. The organization announced that a review will be conducted, with a report to be presented to the FIFA Council at its next scheduled meeting.

Pressure on Infantino has been mounting, including from two senior FIFA officials. Additionally, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose country co-hosted the 2026 World Cup alongside the US and Mexico, publicly stated he no longer has confidence in Infantino's leadership.

Despite these challenges, FIFA stands by its president, signaling a commitment to a "comprehensive reckoning with this presidency."

Sources