A seismic 48 hours
Football is facing its biggest governance crisis in years. UEFA has threatened to boycott the World Cup, and CONCACAF has rejected a funding plan from FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
The trouble began with a FIFA proposal to sell commercial rights to the expanded 2026 World Cup. European federations saw the plan as a sell-off of the sport's most valuable asset. Critics said it handed control of the tournament to private investors.
FIFA's response
FIFA's council moved quickly to contain the damage. It reaffirmed its support for Infantino and apologized for the way the plan was handled. But the apology has not calmed the revolt.
UEFA said trust has been broken. Its leaders want the plan withdrawn in full and a say in any future commercial deals. CONCACAF, which runs football in North and Central America, also wants a bigger voice in World Cup decisions.
Former players and officials have joined the criticism. Some have called on Infantino to resign. Others have asked for an independent review of how the plan was drafted and approved.
What happens now
The standoff raises hard questions. Can the 2026 World Cup go ahead if UEFA members refuse to take part? European teams have won most of the recent tournaments, and a boycott would change the event beyond recognition.
Infantino's position is also under pressure. He has led FIFA since 2016 and has survived earlier disputes. This time the opposition includes some of the sport's most powerful federations.
FIFA says it will hold talks with all confederations in the coming weeks. The clock is ticking. The 2026 tournament is set to open in North America, and organizers need a stable agreement long before kickoff.