The Football Association (FA) has formally withdrawn its backing for Gianni Infantino’s FIFA presidency re-election bid, following the collapse of a contentious multi-billion-dollar proposal to privatize World Cup commercial rights.
​Reports on Thursday, August 6, 2026, confirmed that the English FA sent written notification to FIFA headquarters in Zurich, signaling a major diplomatic breach between European governing bodies and world football’s leadership. The move comes as Infantino faces an unprecedented revolt over the abandoned “FIFA Forward Enterprise” (FFE) initiative.
FIFA permanently shelved its proposal to sell a 20% commercial stake in future World Cups to private equity investors for $4.2 billion following intense pushback from European confederations and member associations.
The English FA called publicly for a “full and robust review of FIFA’s leadership and governance,” while UEFA warned of potential legal action to preserve internal records related to the venture.
Infantino and FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström convened an emergency crisis summit on Wednesday, August 5, at FIFA’s African regional headquarters in Salé, near Rabat. FIFA subsequently issued a formal letter of apology to all 211 member associations for procedural errors and a lack of consultation.
The English FA joined the Football Association of Wales (FAW), the Football Association of Serbia, and the Finnish FA in formally retracting its support for Infantino’s candidature ahead of the 2027–2031 presidential term.
​The scandal has exposed severe internal rifts within FIFA’s executive administration and provoked strong reactions across the global game:
​”The recent failures in good governance, processes, leadership, values, stakeholder management, communications and sound judgement have led us to a position where Mr. Infantino has lost the confidence of the FAW to remain at the helm of world football.” said the Football Association of Wales (FAW) official statement.
​”It was agreed that it was not the intention for the FIFA Council and FIFA member associations to feel excluded from the process… FIFA acknowledges that the process should have been handled differently.” according to Grafström, FIFA Secretary General, in an internal memo following Wednesday’s summit in Rabat.
​”Staff and member federations were deceived over a plan that amounted to the project of a single person rather than an organizational consensus.” Kevin Lamour, FIFA Chief Operating Officer, addressing administrative fallout.
​The withdrawal of support from major European federations, coupled with critical statements from political figures like Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who labeled Infantino “the wrong man to lead FIFA” marks the most serious political challenge to Infantino’s decade-long tenure.
​With UEFA actively reviewing its legal options and considering alternative candidates for the upcoming FIFA Congress, Infantino’s administration enters a crucial period of uncertainty as it attempts to rebuild trust with member nations.
