FIFA President Gianni Infantino held an emergency crisis meeting at FIFA offices in Rabat, onefootball.com, following the collapse of a controversial plan to sell shares of the World Cup and other tournaments to private investors. The aborted initiative—briefly known as FIFA Forward Enterprise—was unveiled to the public after being leaked by the press, only to be permanently abandoned following fierce resistance from football stakeholders, including the European governing body UEFA.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino Holds Crisis Meeting in Morocco Amid Project Collapse
According to Laliberte, the abandoned venture aimed to create an external company managed by private financiers, drawing criticism that led high-level figures to distance themselves from leadership. Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino, resigned after stating his categorical opposition to the scheme, while Secretary General Mattias Grafström described the ordeal as a series of sad and condemnable events. During his stay in Rabat, Infantino attended the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations match between Zambia and Malawi at Al Medina stadium alongside the head of the Moroccan football federation.
Apologies Issued and Repercussions for Leadership
Following the withdrawal of the commercial project, Infantino and Secretary General Mattias Grafström issued a joint internal letter published by Sky Sports and The Times. In the correspondence, the leadership duo offered a formal apology for errors tied to the initiative and committed to presenting a full report to the FIFA Council during its next scheduled meeting. The letter stated that with the project withdrawn, FIFA would no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance, and due process, and would take all necessary measures to protect and safeguard its name and reputation.
Despite these internal assurances, external political figures have piled pressure on the administration. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney joined British counterpart Andy Burnham in criticizing the leadership, with Carney stating that he lacked confidence in Infantino due to poor governance practices. Burnham previously asserted that the FIFA leader was the wrong person for the job. In addition, former Portuguese football star Luis Figo publicly lashed out in a Laliberte tribune, declaring that Infantino must leave his post. A handful of national associations—namely Finland, Wales, Serbia, and Sweden—have officially withdrawn their support ahead of elections scheduled for March 2027 in Rabat, where Infantino currently stands as the sole declared candidate for another four-year term requiring a majority of 211 member associations.
Denials Over the 2030 World Cup Final Venue
Media reports from Goal.com indicated that British outlet The Times claimed Infantino allegedly promised to award Morocco the hosting rights for the 2030 World Cup final at the planned Hassan II stadium in Casablanca in exchange for political support. Morocco is set to co-organize the 2030 tournament alongside Spain and Portugal, with aspirations to host the final at the 115,000-capacity venue.
However, FIFA forcefully denied any such arrangement. A spokesperson told the Spanish publication AS that claims of a promised final were false and misleading, noting that FIFA will determine the venue in due course. While the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid remains a primary competitor for the match, reports highlighted that Infantino’s frequent visits to Morocco—contrasted with a cooling of ties with Spanish authorities—have intensified speculation surrounding the eventual decision.
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