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Gianni Infantino

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Latest Gianni Infantino articles

Will anyone topple Infantino? How Fifa president is trying to cling on after World Cup sell-off debacle

Will anyone topple Infantino? How Fifa president is trying to cling on after World Cup sell-off debacle

Fifa president continues to lobby for re-election despite no other candidates coming forward to challenge him For Gianni Infantino there is no international break. The Fifa president is widely expected to make an appearance at the United Nations general assembly this week in New York, where he will lobby heads of state for their federations’ support as he continues his campaign to be re-elected next year. Infantino has not been idle during the lull since Fifa abandoned its World Cup sell-off plan last month, instead crisscrossing the globe on a private jet provided by Qatar Airways as part of its sponsorship deal with world football’s governing body. Continue reading...

Gianni Infantinocritical
FIFAGianni InfantinoNew York
Sep 22, 2026 · byThe Guardian
Infantino says he is open to talks over FIFA reform

Infantino says he is open to talks over FIFA reform

Paris: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has proposed an independent review of the world soccer body's decision-making, in a move that could help him regain support after the withdrawal of a controversial private investment plan. "First, I will ask the Council whether it wishes to commission an independent external review of FIFA’s current governance framework for major strategic initiatives and recommend potential improvements," Infantino wrote to the FIFA ⁠Council and all 211 member association presidents in a letter seen by Reuters. He also said he would propose consultations with confederations, member associations and other stakeholders on strengthening FIFA's decision-making. The proposals would examine who has a say in major initiatives, including the respective roles of the president, Bureau, Council and Congress, and ‌how to improve transparency and accountability. Infantino faced a fierce backlash over his proposal to sell a 20% stake in FIFA's commercial rights, including the World Cup, to private investors. The plan was abandoned in July after opposition and boycott ‌threats, with UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF subsequently calling for changes to ‌FIFA's leadership. His opponents have been struggling to find a candidate to challenge Infantino, who will be running ‌for re-election in March in Rabat. Sources ‌familiar with the discussions told Reuters this month that he still had enough votes to win, prompting opponents to focus on curbing his powers. Infantino said ​the abandoned plan had explored ‌whether selling a minority stake in ​a FIFA-controlled commercial company could raise more money ⁠for football development. It would not have involved giving up control over sporting decisions, he said. But the proposal became public before it could be presented in full to the Council and member associations, according to Infantino. "I recognise that, ​without the full context, ⁠this caused concern and created ⁠the impression that decisions had already been taken. They had not," he wrote in the letter sent on Monday. "It remained a proposal, not a decision, and was always subject to the necessary approvals of the Council and the ⁠Member Associations. It has now been withdrawn and will not proceed." Infantino said he had heard differing ideas about who should decide major strategic questions. Some favoured requiring unanimous agreement in the Bureau, while others wanted such matters put directly to Congress and the member associations. "My role is not to pre-judge that discussion. Those who support a particular model should have the opportunity to set out their case clearly," he ‌wrote. Suggestions received by the October 15 Council meeting could be discussed there, with later submissions also considered within a deadline yet to be ​specified. Any changes to FIFA's statutes would need Congress approval. Infantino also said member associations' positions on proposals or governance matters would not affect their treatment by FIFA, whose development and solidarity programmes would continue under existing rules. "No association’s treatment will depend on its position on any proposal or institutional matter," he wrote. "I remain fully committed to ​leading FIFA and confident in what we ‌can achieve together."

Gianni Infantinoneutral
CongressFIFAGianni Infantino
Sep 21, 2026 · byMobile Business
Infantino proposes an ‘independent external review’ of Fifa governance

Infantino proposes an ‘independent external review’ of Fifa governance

President writes to council and member nations Infantino says he is ‘fully committed to leading Fifa’ The Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, proposed an outside review of how the governing body ⁠makes major decisions on ⁠Monday, acknowledging in a ​letter to members that its handling of a now-abandoned investment plan had caused concern. “First, I will ask the council whether it wishes to commission an independent external review ⁠of Fifa’s current governance framework for major strategic initiatives and recommend potential improvements,” Infantino wrote to the Fifa council and all 211 member association presidents. Continue reading...

Gianni Infantinoneutral
FIFAGianni Infantino
Sep 21, 2026 · byThe Guardian
UEFA, CONCACAF demand FIFA make $2.1 billion payout to member groups amid funding row

UEFA, CONCACAF demand FIFA make $2.1 billion payout to member groups amid funding row

UEFA and CONCACAF chiefs have urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to release around $2.1 billion from the governing body's reserves, calling for each of its 211 member associations to receive $10 million over the 2027-30 cycle. The demand comes amid tensions over Infantino's proposed sale of a stake in the World Cup to private investors, which was shelved after a backlash from European football.

FIFAneutral
FIFAGianni Infantino
Sep 18, 2026 · byFrance 24
FA chair Hewitt demands Infantino release records of failed World Cup plan

FA chair Hewitt demands Infantino release records of failed World Cup plan

Letter sent before Fifa council meeting on 15 October Infantino under pressure before presidential election The Football Association’s chair, Debbie Hewitt, has written to Gianni Infantino demanding that Fifa releases all documents relating to his abandoned World Cup sell-off plan and the decision to lift the USA striker Folarin Balogun’s suspension during last summer’s tournament. The Guardian revealed last month that Hewitt and other members of the Fifa council were lobbying for an independent review of the proposed Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) sell-off and the Balogun controversy. Their requests have been formalised in a letter sent to the Fifa president and his deputy, Mattias Grafström. Continue reading...

FIFAGianni InfantinoThe Guardian
Sep 17, 2026 · byThe Guardian
What can halt Fifa’s authoritarian turn under Infantino? Change from the outside | Jules Boykoff

What can halt Fifa’s authoritarian turn under Infantino? Change from the outside | Jules Boykoff

The World Cup and its aftermath made clear that Fifa needs independent oversight by governments and NGOs dedicated to preserving the people’s game The 2026 World Cup was a whirling swirl of scintillating soccer that prompted much-needed conversations about the vitality of diaspora, the fortitude of the underdog, the power of sport. In a world fractured along myriad cultural axes floating in an entertainment system dominated by on-demand content, the tournament provided a moment, perhaps unlike any other event, that brought together people from different backgrounds to simultaneously experience something meaningful. After the tournament concluded, Fifa president Gianni Infantino dropped a political pipebomb into the after-party, proposing to privatize the World Cup by injecting $20bn in private capital, with an assist from JP Morgan and Thrive Capital, the investment vehicle orchestrated by Joshua Kushner, brother to Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law. Continue reading...

Donald TrumpFIFAGianni Infantino
Sep 12, 2026 · byThe Guardian
What can halt Fifa’s authoritarian turn under Infantino? Change from the outside | Jules Boykoff

What can halt Fifa’s authoritarian turn under Infantino? Change from the outside | Jules Boykoff

The World Cup and its aftermath made clear that Fifa needs independent oversight by governments and NGOs dedicated to preserving the people’s game The 2026 World Cup was a whirling swirl of scintillating soccer that prompted much-needed conversations about the vitality of diaspora, the fortitude of the underdog, the power of sport. In a world fractured along myriad cultural axes floating in an entertainment system dominated by on-demand content, the tournament provided a moment, perhaps unlike any other event, that brought together people from different backgrounds to simultaneously experience something meaningful. After the tournament concluded, Fifa president Gianni Infantino dropped a political pipebomb into the after-party, proposing to privatize the World Cup by injecting $20bn in private capital, with an assist from JP Morgan and Thrive Capital, the investment vehicle orchestrated by Joshua Kushner, brother to Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law. Continue reading...

Donald TrumpFIFAGianni Infantino
Sep 12, 2026 · byThe Guardian
What can halt Fifa’s authoritarian turn under Infantino? Change from the outside | Jules Boykoff

What can halt Fifa’s authoritarian turn under Infantino? Change from the outside | Jules Boykoff

The World Cup and its aftermath made clear that Fifa needs independent oversight by governments and NGOs dedicated to preserving the people’s game The 2026 World Cup was a whirling swirl of scintillating soccer that prompted much-needed conversations about the vitality of diaspora, the fortitude of the underdog, the power of sport. In a world fractured along myriad cultural axes floating in an entertainment system dominated by on-demand content, the tournament provided a moment, perhaps unlike any other event, that brought together people from different backgrounds to simultaneously experience something meaningful. After the tournament concluded, Fifa president Gianni Infantino dropped a political pipebomb into the after-party, proposing to privatize the World Cup by injecting $20bn in private capital, with an assist from JP Morgan and Thrive Capital, the investment vehicle orchestrated by Joshua Kushner, brother to Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law. Continue reading...

Donald TrumpFIFAGianni Infantino
Sep 12, 2026 · byThe Guardian
French FA accuses Infantino of ‘seriously damaging’ football as it withdraws support

French FA accuses Infantino of ‘seriously damaging’ football as it withdraws support

‘Image and unity’ of game affected, FFF president says It will consult sacked former Fifa official Kevin Lamour The French Football Federation’s president, Philippe Diallo, said Gianni Infantino had “seriously damaged the image and the unity of football” as he announced the end of France’s support for the Fifa president’s re-election. The FFF’s executive committee unanimously voted on Thursday to withdraw its backing, which had been formalised at the end of June. Diallo referred to “events during the World Cup” which had “flagrantly gone against the way we believe our sport should be run” and to Infantino’s World Cup sell-off plan, which was revealed in July and scrapped after a widespread backlash. Continue reading...

FIFAFranceGianni Infantino
Sep 10, 2026 · byThe Guardian
French FA accuses Infantino of ‘seriously damaging’ football as it withdraws support

French FA accuses Infantino of ‘seriously damaging’ football as it withdraws support

‘Image and unity’ of game affected, FFF president says It will consult sacked former Fifa official Kevin Lamour The French Football Federation’s president, Philippe Diallo, said Gianni Infantino had “seriously damaged the image and the unity of football” as he announced the end of France’s support for the Fifa president’s re-election. The FFF’s executive committee unanimously voted on Thursday to withdraw its backing, which had been formalised at the end of June. Diallo referred to “events during the World Cup” which had “flagrantly gone against the way we believe our sport should be run” and to Infantino’s World Cup sell-off plan, which was revealed in July and scrapped after a widespread backlash. Continue reading...

FIFAFranceGianni Infantino
Sep 10, 2026 · byThe Guardian