FIFA has officially apologized for errors regarding a failed initiative to sell stakes in the World Cup, as the organization’s senior leadership moved to stabilize the presidency of Gianni Infantino. During a crisis meeting held in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, members of the management board and Secretary-General Mattias Grafström expressed their full support for the embattled president.
The meeting followed a week of significant internal and external turbulence sparked by the proposed creation of a commercial subsidiary known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). FIFA confirmed in a statement that the FFE proposal is now off the table. The governing body acknowledged that mistakes were made during the process and stated that the initiative should have been handled differently.
FIFA has since issued a formal letter to the FIFA Council and member associations expressing regret for the errors and providing assurances that such oversights will not recur.
World soccer's governing body attempted to present a unified front amid the turbulence caused by Infantino's controversial plans, with calls for him to step down. The show of solidarity from Secretary-General Grafström is particularly notable, as he had previously distanced himself from the now-abandoned plan. In an email sent to staff last week, Grafström had characterized the events as a sad and reproachable series of occurrences. FIFA noted that Infantino, in turn, has reaffirmed his support for his secretary-general.
Despite the attempt to present a unified front, Infantino continues to face intense external pressure. The association of European soccer leagues, which includes major organizations such as the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A, has formally called for governance reform. The group labeled the FFE proposal as dangerous and argued that it highlighted systemic concerns regarding FIFA’s internal culture and decision-making processes.
Furthermore, the European Leagues stated they would reject any further expansion or creation of FIFA competitions until significant governance reforms are enacted, specifically critiquing the possibility of expanding the World Cup to 64 teams.
Former Portuguese star Luis Figo has also publicly called for Infantino to step down, asserting that the president has debased his office. Additionally, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated he no longer has confidence in Infantino, describing the lack of consultation with senior advisers as a fatal governance failure. Within FIFA, the environment remains strained; senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned last week, and chief operating officer Kevin Lamour remarked that staff felt deceived by a lack of transparency.
FIFA also addressed reports circulating in British media that alleged Infantino promised the hosting rights for the 2030 World Cup final to Morocco in exchange for political support. A spokesperson for the governing body dismissed these claims as false and misleading, emphasizing that no such promises have been made and that a decision on the final venue will be finalized in due course. Morocco, Spain, and Portugal are currently slated as the main co-hosts for the 2030 tournament.
With elections scheduled for March, where Infantino intends to seek a fourth and final term, the organization remains under scrutiny. Grafström's stated support was notable after he distanced himself from Infantino's now abandoned plans in an email to all FIFA staff calling the last week a "sad and reproachable series of events." UEFA has applied significant pressure by voting to boycott the World Cup had the FFE plans proceeded, and even with the project’s cancellation, the governing body indicated a loss of confidence in current leadership.
Similarly, CONCACAF has stated that FIFA’s leadership has moved away from prioritizing football, further highlighting the challenges Infantino faces in maintaining control of the organization.
