FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing renewed scrutiny following a joint letter from UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC, which emphasized that football "belongs to no individual." This criticism comes as Infantino's attempts to address the situation with a statement condemning efforts to undermine him have not yielded the desired results.

Infantino's Recent Challenges

On August 10, 2026, Infantino's plans to secure private investment for a new commercial subsidiary, the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), were withdrawn. This initiative was intended to manage the commercial aspects of World Cups. The backlash against Infantino's leadership style has intensified, particularly from the three confederations that issued the letter criticizing him.

Support and Opposition

Despite the criticism, Infantino retains support from certain quarters. The Confederation of African Football (CAF), which includes Morocco as a co-host of the 2030 World Cup, has reaffirmed its backing for Infantino. Their statement highlighted gratitude for his contributions to African football over the years. Similarly, the South American governing body CONMEBOL has expressed general support, although it criticized the handling of Infantino's recent plans and suggested that his future should be determined in the upcoming presidential election in Rabat next March. Notably, some individual member associations, including Mexico, Kuwait, and Qatar, have also voiced their support for Infantino.

On the other hand, UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC have intensified their criticism. UEFA labeled Infantino's plan as a "shabby, opaque, backroom deal" and has threatened to boycott all FIFA competitions, which is believed to have pressured Infantino into retracting his proposal. Their threats were reiterated last week, indicating that they are not alone in their opposition.

The ongoing conflict within FIFA raises questions about Infantino's leadership and the future direction of the organization as it approaches critical elections and major tournaments.