Gianni Infantino arrived at the end of the 2026 World Cup looking untouchable. Within fourteen days, the Fifa president was battling to save his career, his credibility in shreds after a series of decisions that left football's governing body engulfed in crisis. The sequence of events is extraordinary — and almost entirely self-inflicted.
The Instagram post that lit the fuse
It began, of all places, on social media. On Monday 27 July, Infantino marked the conclusion of the World Cup with a fifteen-page Instagram post taking direct aim at journalists he accused of spreading "hate and false rumours" about the tournament. He described the preceding month as one of "joy and happiness" and suggested reporters should instead "take a moment to reflect, meditate, pray or watch a match". Given what followed within 24 hours, the timing could scarcely have been worse.
The secret £3.1bn plan
By Tuesday 28 July, a report revealed that Infantino had been quietly developing a plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors — a scheme valued at £3.1 billion. Crucially, the deal allegedly involved the brother of Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law. Condemnation arrived swiftly from politicians and football officials alike. Even Sepp Blatter, himself no stranger to Fifa controversy during his own presidency, took to social media to express concern that "the financial dimension is deeply damaging football".
Fifa's member associations given an ultimatum
When Infantino eventually acknowledged the plan was real, he attempted to frame it as merely a "proposal" and part of a "democratic process". That characterisation did not survive scrutiny for long. It subsequently emerged that Fifa had issued its 211 member associations a deadline of 19 September to back the scheme — or forfeit their £15 million cut. Concacaf stated publicly that it had only learned of the proposal through media coverage. Uefa went further, accusing Fifa officials of "using our sport to enrich themselves and their friends".
Uefa calls an emergency meeting
After the full details of the plan — drawn up with the involvement of US bank JP Morgan, a document that reportedly described Fifa as "undermonetized" — became public, Uefa convened an emergency meeting on Thursday 30 July. All 55 of its member associations agreed to boycott Fifa competitions if the scheme went ahead. In Washington, a senior Democrat, Jamie Raskin, warned that Fifa could face a congressional investigation, calling the proposal "a smash-and-grab scam of colossal proportions".
Infantino retreats — but the damage is done
Pressure mounted on Friday 31 July when Andy Burnham became the first head of a major host city to call publicly for Infantino's resignation. Trump distanced himself — "I never spoke to him" — while reports emerged that Infantino had repeatedly attempted to contact the US president and received no reply. Fifa's own chief operating officer had already criticised the proposal internally.
By Saturday 1 August, Infantino reversed course entirely, withdrawing the plan and claiming he had "listened carefully to all views". Uefa remained unmoved. In a statement, the organisation declared that the Fifa leadership had "lost our confidence" and that "no option should be off the table".
Support drains away
The following days brought a coordinated withdrawal of backing. England, Wales and Serbia joined several other European associations in demanding change at the top. Lawyers acting for Uefa issued formal instructions to Infantino and his staff to preserve all documents related to the collapsed scheme. Several European football bodies also began discussing withdrawing longstanding letters of support for Infantino's re-election.
Only Qatar's football association offered public backing, stating it "fully supports president Infantino's efforts to continue growing and strengthening the game" — a solitary voice in an increasingly hostile landscape.
What happens next?
Infantino's future now rests on whether the broader Fifa membership — many of whom rely heavily on funds distributed by the organisation — rally behind him or decide the association needs fresh leadership. What is clear is that the goodwill generated by a successful World Cup has evaporated in a matter of days. For a president who celebrated that tournament by lecturing journalists on misinformation, the irony is hard to ignore.
FAQs
- What was Gianni Infantino's plan to sell stakes in the World Cup?
According to reports, Infantino developed a £3.1 billion scheme to sell private investment stakes in the World Cup, drawn up with the involvement of US bank JP Morgan. Critics accused the plan of prioritising personal enrichment over the good of the sport, and it was withdrawn on 1 August 2026 following widespread condemnation. - Could Uefa actually boycott Fifa competitions?
All 55 Uefa member associations agreed in principle to boycott Fifa competitions if the privatisation plan went ahead. While the plan has since been withdrawn, Uefa has stated that Fifa's leadership has "lost its confidence" and has indicated no option is off the table regarding accountability. - Will Infantino resign as Fifa president?
As of early August 2026, Infantino had not resigned, but several European football associations withdrew their support for his re-election and called for change at the top. His position appears significantly weakened, though he retains backing from some member associations outside Europe.
Frequently asked
- What was Gianni Infantino's plan to sell stakes in the World Cup?
- Reports revealed a £3.1 billion scheme to sell private investment stakes in the World Cup, reportedly developed with US bank JP Morgan. The plan drew widespread condemnation and was withdrawn by Infantino on 1 August 2026 after Uefa threatened a boycott and politicians called for a congressional investigation.
- Could Uefa really boycott Fifa competitions?
- All 55 Uefa member associations agreed in principle to boycott Fifa competitions if the privatisation plan proceeded. The plan was subsequently withdrawn, but Uefa has made clear it has lost confidence in the current Fifa leadership and has not ruled out further action.
- Is Infantino going to resign as Fifa president?
- As of early August 2026, Infantino has not resigned. However, several European associations — including England and Wales — withdrew support for his re-election, and Uefa's lawyers have ordered the preservation of all documents related to the collapsed scheme, suggesting further scrutiny is coming.