UEFA, CONCACAF and AFC Issue Joint Letter Condemning Infantino’s World Cup Stake Sale Plan

UEFA, the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have released a coordinated open letter accusing FIFA president Gianni Infantino of breaching the trust of the global game. The letter, signed by the presidents of the three confederations and by three general secretaries, says football belongs to no single person or organisation and condemns Infantino’s conduct.

Scope of the challenge

The confederations describe the episode as the most serious institutional challenge to Infantino’s presidency since he took office in 2016, and they stress that the governance crisis extends beyond Europe. Their statement characterises the failed proposal to sell a commercial stake in the World Cup to private‑equity investors as “a profound failure of judgment, not just a procedural misstep, but a fundamental breach of trust with the very institutions FIFA exists to serve”.

Infantino’s plan collapsed after broad opposition from clubs, national associations and other stakeholders. UEFA warned it would boycott the tournament and other FIFA competitions in response. The Norwegian Football Federation called for Infantino’s resignation, and the English Football Association withdrew its support for his re‑election bid ahead of the March 2026 FIFA Congress.

FIFA’s response

FIFA issued an apology on a Wednesday, acknowledging errors and noting that senior staff at a crisis meeting in Morocco had reaffirmed their full support for Infantino. The confederations’ letter disputes the representativeness of that meeting, pointing out that only one elected official attended and no FIFA Council members or member associations were invited.

In its statement, FIFA described the criticism as a “concerted and ongoing effort” to undermine the president.

Additional developments

A Daily Telegraph report raised questions about a departure payment made by UEFA to a female staff member who had worked with Infantino during his 16‑year tenure as UEFA general secretary. UEFA confirmed the payment was made and said it complied with the regulations that were in force at the time.

The confederations conclude that the episode is “a failure of judgment” rather than merely a communication problem, and they call for leadership that serves football rather than seeks to command it. The English FA and the Norwegian federation have already broken ranks with the confederations, leaving the next formal test of Infantino’s authority to the FIFA Congress scheduled for March 2026.