Concacaf

Also known as: North, Central America and the Caribbean's ruling body CONCACAF

Continental football confederation that, alongside UEFA and AFC, issued a joint letter criticizing FIFA president Gianni Infantino over his failed private investment plan for World Cups.

2026-07-132026-09-16

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

July 2026
31 JulCitizen Digital
… The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have also expressed concern that the proposal was made public before FIFA's 211 member associations were fully consulted. …
UEFA says will boycott World Cup if FIFA pushes private investor proposal
31 JulThe Standard
… "This is not something FIFA would ever entertain." It also said it had heard feedback from UEFA and CONCACAF, the governing body for football in North and Central America, which said all 41 of its member associations had rejected FIFA's proposal to sell a stake in the business op …
FIFA vows to go ahead with private investor proposal
31 JulThe Standard
Audio By VocalizeThe Asian Football Confederation (AFC) joined UEFA and CONCACAF in condemning world football's governing body FIFA's proposed private investment plan, saying on Friday they were alarmed it had reached the point a "World Cup boycott has entered public discourse". …
Infantino's most senior advisor resigns, distances self from controversial FIFA plan
29 JulCitizen Digital
CONCACAF 'deeply concerned' by FIFA investment plans By AFP July 29, 2026 01:16 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter This combination of files pictures created on July 29, 2026 shows the FIFA logo during a press …
CONCACAF 'deeply concerned' by FIFA investment plans
29 JulThe Standard
… CONCACAF, which governs North and Central American football, said it was "deeply concerned by the lack of due process". …
FIFA's plans to sell Sh540b stake in its tournaments widely criticised
13 JulCitizen Digital
… Victor Montagliani, president of the governing body for football in North and Central America and the Caribbean (Concacaf), said the suggestion "doesn't feel right" and he believes the expansion would damage "the broader football ecosystem". …
Infantino opens door to 64-team World Cup

World & Region

France withdraws FIFA presidential support from Infantino

The News

France's Football Federation announced it will not support Gianni Infantino's candidacy for FIFA president in the March 2027 election, joining other European federations including Belgium, Italy, Scotland, Sweden and Wales in withdrawing support. The FFF stated that trust in the FIFA president has been betrayed and that world football governance no longer reflects their values.

10 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Thursday 10 September

France withdraws FIFA presidential support from Infantino
France's Football Federation announced it will not support Gianni Infantino's candidacy for FIFA president in the March 2027 election, joining other European federations including Belgium, Italy, Scotland, Sweden and Wales in withdrawing support. The FFF stated that trust in the FIFA president has been betrayed and that world football governance no longer reflects their values.
10 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
France joins European nations withdrawing support for Infantino
France has withdrawn support for Gianni Infantino's candidacy for FIFA president in the March 2027 election, aligning with Belgium, Italy, Scotland, Sweden and Wales. The French Football Federation cited a loss of trust in the FIFA president's governance of world football, citing his abandoned plan to bring private investment into the World Cups.
10 September 2026 · The Standard →

Friday 4 September

FIFA accuses UEFA of smear campaign over World Cup plan
FIFA has accused UEFA of a "smear campaign" and "fishing expedition" after UEFA asked US judges to force FIFA to disclose documents related to its failed plan to secure private investment in World Cup tournaments. UEFA has threatened possible legal action against FIFA president Gianni Infantino for alleged "criminal mismanagement" over the scrapped investor plan.
4 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Friday 28 August

UEFA considers legal action against FIFA president Infantino
UEFA announced it is considering legal action against FIFA President Gianni Infantino over his now-abandoned plan to secure private investment in FIFA tournaments, which a former International Olympic Committee marketing director described as a "massive escalation" of their feud. Infantino has faced increasing pressure to step down, and UEFA has withdrawn its threat to boycott FIFA tournaments on a provisional basis.
28 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Argentine sports executives admit FIFA bribery scheme
Two Argentine sports marketing executives, Hugo and Mariano Jinkis, admitted to bribing international soccer officials to secure lucrative media rights in a scheme that defrauded FIFA, CONCACAF, and CONMEBOL. Under a deferred prosecution agreement with US prosecutors, they agreed to forfeit $50 million and avoid trial.
28 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Thursday 27 August

Saudi Arabia backs FIFA president amid private investment backlash
Saudi Arabia's Football Federation expressed support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino and welcomed his joint statement with Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom acknowledging mistakes and abandoning a plan to bring private financing into the World Cup, which had triggered global opposition.
27 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Wednesday 26 August

Italian FA withdraws support for FIFA president Infantino
Italy's national football federation withdrew its support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino over his failed attempt to sell off stakes in the World Cup, joining other European associations in scrapping their backing ahead of his re-election bid at next year's FIFA Congress.
26 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
UEFA likely to withdraw World Cup boycott threat
UEFA is "likely" to withdraw its threat to boycott FIFA tournaments after the two conditions it sought from FIFA following president Gianni Infantino's failed attempt to secure private investment in the World Cup have been met, according to a source.
26 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Monday 24 August

Eto'o defends FIFA president Infantino amid pressure to resign
Former Cameroon star Samuel Eto'o has backed FIFA president Gianni Infantino, saying he "hasn't done anything wrong" despite intense scrutiny over a failed private investment proposal for FIFA tournaments including the World Cup. UEFA and other federations have withdrawn support and threatened boycotts over the controversial plan.
24 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
UEFA's Ceferin rules out replacing Infantino as FIFA president
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has ruled himself out of contention to replace FIFA President Gianni Infantino, while warning that Infantino must quit or face a leadership challenge. Infantino has faced mounting pressure to step down over his now-abandoned plan to secure private investment in FIFA tournaments, with UEFA and other continental federations withdrawing support.
24 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
UEFA chief Ceferin rules out FIFA presidency bid amid Infantino pressure
UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin has said he is not interested in replacing FIFA President Gianni Infantino, but warned that Infantino must either quit or face a leadership challenge in March over his abandoned plan to secure private investment in FIFA tournaments. UEFA has threatened to boycott FIFA competitions and several federations have withdrawn support for Infantino.
24 August 2026 · The Standard →

Wednesday 19 August

FIFA vice-president withdraws support for Infantino over dismissals
A FIFA vice-president from Hungary has withdrawn his support from FIFA president Gianni Infantino, citing the "unexpected dismissal" of Kevin Lamour, the chief operating officer who had publicly criticised Infantino's plan for private investment in World Cups.
19 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Tuesday 18 August

FIFA chief Infantino parts with critic Lamour
FIFA President Gianni Infantino's chief operating officer Kevin Lamour has departed after breaking ranks with senior FIFA directors and criticizing Infantino's plan to bring private investment into FIFA competitions, including World Cups. Lamour had refused to sign off on the deal and described it as "the project of one person."
18 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Asian football chief challenges Qatar over Infantino criticism letter
A split within Asian football deepened after the region's top official hit back at Qatar's challenge over the confederation's move to join UEFA and CONCACAF in criticizing FIFA president Gianni Infantino over his failed plan to bring private investment into FIFA competitions. Qatar's football chief said neither he nor the QFA had been consulted before the joint statement was issued.
18 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Saturday 15 August

Qatar disputes AFC's attack on FIFA president Infantino
Qatar challenged the Asian Football Confederation over its decision to join UEFA and CONCACAF in an open letter attacking FIFA President Gianni Infantino, saying it was not consulted before the three confederations issued the statement.
15 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Thursday 13 August

African football chief: Infantino's future decided by election
CAF president Patrice Motsepe says FIFA president Gianni Infantino's future should be decided by elections, after Ireland joined European, North American, and Asian football bodies in withdrawing support over his failed plan to sell World Cup stakes to private investors.
13 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Tuesday 11 August

FIFA president Infantino faces confidence loss from UEFA
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has lost the confidence of UEFA after his plan to allow private investment in the World Cup was withdrawn following global backlash. Despite support from US President Donald Trump and withdrawing the controversial proposal, Infantino's position remains precarious as three confederations have criticized his style of leadership.
11 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Trump opposes removal of FIFA president Infantino
US President Donald Trump said on Monday it would be "a terrible mistake" to replace FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who is facing criticism from three continental confederations over deception and failed efforts to privatize parts of the World Cup.
11 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Trump backs Infantino despite FIFA confederations calling for ouster
US President Donald Trump said Monday it would be "a terrible mistake" to replace FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who faced criticism from UEFA, CONCACAF and AFC over a failed plan to sell World Cup broadcasting rights to private investors.
11 August 2026 · The Standard →

Monday 10 August

US and Canada oppose FIFA President Infantino
The football federations of the United States and Canada, two of the 2026 World Cup hosts, backed a statement from three confederations criticising FIFA president Gianni Infantino and calling for meaningful change to strengthen FIFA's governance, transparency and accountability.
10 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
FIFA president Infantino faces confederation criticism after investment plan
FIFA president Gianni Infantino withdrew his plan to raise private investment for a new commercial subsidiary to run World Cup operations after global backlash. UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC released an open letter criticizing his leadership style, despite calls for unity.
10 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Three confederations challenge FIFA president over governance
FIFA president Gianni Infantino faced a joint letter from UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC declaring that football "belongs to no individual," following his withdrawal of a plan to allow private investment in World Cup competitions after global backlash.
10 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
UEFA, CONCACAF, AFC criticize FIFA's Infantino in joint letter
Three continental football confederations issued a joint letter accusing FIFA president Gianni Infantino of placing himself above the collective after his failed attempt to bring private investment into World Cup competitions. The confederations wrote that "leadership in football is not a possession" and that "when trust is broken through deception," the duty of leadership has been abandoned.
10 August 2026 · The Standard →

Friday 7 August

FIFA president Infantino shelves World Cup private investment plan
FIFA president Gianni Infantino abandoned his controversial plan to allow private investment in the World Cup, described as a "humiliating climbdown." Though he received support from senior directors and a confederation this week, his position remains precarious ahead of his potential re-election for a fourth and final term next March.
7 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
UEFA threatens boycott as Infantino faces mixed continental backing
FIFA president Gianni Infantino lost UEFA's "confidence" after withdrawing a plan to allow private investment in the World Cup, prompting the European body to reiterate a boycott threat. While the Confederation of African Football backed Infantino, CONMEBOL and UEFA criticized him over the cancelled financing scheme.
7 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
UEFA maintains boycott threat despite Infantino's scrapped finance plan
FIFA president Gianni Infantino abandoned a plan to bring private finance into the World Cup after UEFA threatened to boycott tournaments, but UEFA said on Thursday that not all of its conditions have been met and reiterated the boycott threat. CAF backed Infantino while CONMEBOL criticized him.
7 August 2026 · The Standard →

Thursday 6 August

FIFA backs Infantino despite World Cup privatisation controversy
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has received "full support" from senior directors following a crisis meeting in Morocco, though the organisation apologised for errors made in handling a now-shelved plan to open the World Cup to private investment, which had faced widespread criticism.
6 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
FIFA backs Infantino, apologises for World Cup privatisation plan
FIFA's leadership has given "full support" to president Gianni Infantino following his decision to shelve a controversial plan to open the World Cup to private investment, while acknowledging "errors" were made in how the proposal was handled after it was leaked to media.
6 August 2026 · The Standard →

Wednesday 5 August

FIFA chief Infantino holds emergency talks with directors
FIFA President Gianni Infantino held emergency talks with other FIFA directors in Morocco on August 5, 2026, amid criticism over his shelved plan to open the World Cup to private investment, with calls for his resignation growing since he abandoned the proposal.
5 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
US to face Peru, Chile, Mexico, Canada in friendlies
The U.S. will begin under head coach Mauricio Pochettino with friendlies against Peru on September 26 in Orlando, Chile three days later in St. Louis, Mexico on October 3 in Glendale, Arizona, and Canada in St. Paul, Minnesota.
5 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →