World Cup co-hosts US and Canada oppose FIFA’s Gianni Infantino
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FIFA president Gianni Infantino waving on arrival for the swearing-in of Colombia's new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, in Cali, Colombia, on Aug 7.
PHOTO: AFP
- US and Canada, co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup, joined other football bodies in criticising FIFA president Gianni Infantino and called for improved governance and transparency at FIFA.
- Mexico, the third 2026 World Cup co-host, supports Infantino, creating a split among host nations.
- Three confederations including UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC stated football leadership "belongs to no individual" and opposed Infantino's plans for a commercial subsidiary.
AI generated
LOS ANGELES – The football federations of the United States and Canada – two of the 2026 World Cup host nations – on Aug 10 backed a statement from three confederations criticising FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
US Soccer, Canada Soccer, the CFU (Caribbean Football Union) and UNCAF (Central American Football Union) said they “stand together, along with our colleagues around the world, in calling for meaningful change that strengthens FIFA’s governance, transparency and accountability”.
That puts the US and Canada at odds with the third co-host of this year’s World Cup, Mexico, which has given Infantino its backing.
Infantino has come under intense pressure since first proposing and then shelving a plan to raise private investment for a new commercial subsidiary, called the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which he proposed would run the commercial side of World Cups.
FIFA had hit back on Aug 8 at “a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine” football’s governing body and Infantino.
But the FIFA chief came under renewed fire on Aug 10 as a joint letter from three confederations – Europe’s UEFA, CONCACAF for North and Central America and the Caribbean and Asian body AFC – declared football “belongs to no individual”.
“Leadership in football is not a possession. It is not about holding – or demanding – power to be held,” the confederations wrote
The social media post from US Soccer and Canada Soccer contained a link to the joint letter. AFP
