FIFA President Gianni Infantino arrived at the opening of the Under-20 Women’s World Cup amidst ongoing scrutiny over his decision to scrap his proposal to sell World Cup profits. Infantino, while in the stands conversing with Polish soccer federation president Cezary Kulesza during the opening match between host nation Poland and Argentina, avoided addressing queries about his future.
When approached by Sky News at the stadium, Infantino stated that there would be an appropriate time and place to discuss the matter but emphasized the enjoyment of football at the event. He mentioned FIFA’s commitment to enhancing global football participation and celebration, focusing on providing opportunities and dignity to all corners of the world.
Despite being pressed about resigning and his potential candidacy for a fourth term next year, Infantino remained silent. Following the collapse of his World Cup profit sell-off plan due to opposition from FIFA member nations and internal officials, Infantino had largely stayed out of the limelight. European nations, constituting a quarter of the tournament field, withdrew their boycott threat after receiving assurances from FIFA that the plan would not be revived.
Legal disputes stemming from the failed proposal continue, with Europe spearheading initiatives to remove Infantino before the next FIFA election. FIFA accused UEFA of conducting a “smear campaign” against the organization and its leadership in a court filing related to the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan. Infantino’s proposal, revealed shortly after the World Cup, involved a $20 billion US subsidiary to manage FIFA’s commercial rights, with a New York fund led by Joshua Kushner as a key investor.
Infantino quickly abandoned the idea within days following widespread backlash from global soccer figures, including UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and CONCACAF. The controversy surrounding the plan and criticism towards Infantino from senior FIFA officials remain unresolved.