FIFA President Gianni Infantino is losing support for his re-election bid following a collapsed proposal to sell World Cup stakes to private investors.

The crisis threatens Infantino's leadership of global football as major member associations and internal staff revolt against the commercialization of the sport's premier event.

The controversy centers on a plan announced July 28, 2026 [3] to create a $20 billion company [1] that would run the World Cup with private equity investors. Critics said the move would overly commercialize the tournament and was introduced without sufficient consultation with member associations.

In response to the proposal, the English Football Association announced it will withdraw its support for Infantino's re-election as FIFA president. This public break by one of the world's most influential football associations signals a growing lack of confidence in the current administration.

The instability has extended inside FIFA headquarters in Geneva. Two senior FIFA officials resigned in protest [2] of the sell-off plan. Other key staff members have also broken ranks with the president as the proposal faced internal mutiny.

However, Infantino maintains some strategic alliances. Five influential African football leaders have publicly backed the president despite the ongoing scandal. This divide highlights a rift between European and African football leadership regarding the financial future of the game.

The fallout from the private-equity plan has created a volatile environment for the president's bid to remain in power. While some leaders remain loyal, the loss of support from the English FA and high-level staff creates a precarious path toward his next term.

“The English FA will withdraw its support for Infantino’s re-election as FIFA president over the World Cup scandal.”

The opposition to Infantino reflects a broader tension between FIFA's drive for aggressive commercial expansion and the traditional governance of the sport. By attempting to integrate private equity into the World Cup's core structure, Infantino risked alienating the national associations that provide the tournament's legitimacy. The split in support—with European powers like the English FA withdrawing and African leaders remaining loyal—suggests that the battle for FIFA's future is as much about geopolitical influence as it is about financial strategy.