Rabat meeting addresses Infantino’s future amid criticism of commercial plan

By Sanjay Menon — 5 August 2026 — 4 min read

Infantino faces scrutiny in Rabat

Fifa President Gianni Infantino is currently in Salé, Morocco, amid intensifying criticism regarding his proposed plan to sell a stake in Fifa’s commercial and event operations. Reports suggest Infantino has been attempting to secure his presidency, with aides reportedly contacting Fifa Legends—the organisation’s paid former player ambassadors—to garner public support.

The meeting on Wednesday in Rabat, at Fifa’s Africa office, includes senior leaders of football’s world governing body. Among those expected to attend are Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom, finance chief Thomas Peyer, legal chief Emilio Garcia Silvero, chief of staff Daniel O’Toole, chief of member associations Elkhan Mammadov, and media relations director Bryan Swanson.

The purpose of the meeting is not entirely clear, but it is anticipated that Infantino will aim to mend relationships and find a path to retain his position as president. This comes after a period described by Grafstrom in an internal memo to Fifa staff as a “sad and reproachable series of events” that were “difficult to comprehend and accept.”

One of the Fifa Legends, Luís Figo, publicly condemned Infantino’s plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors, describing it as “the lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour I have ever witnessed.” Figo also stated that “Infantino must go.”

Growing opposition and key questions

The criticism extends beyond former players. Leaders from Uefa, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation are reportedly mobilising. Ideas such as a “governance boycott,” where members refuse to attend meetings or ratify Fifa decisions, are being considered. A more drastic option involves a rival World Cup-style competition, which would effectively signify secession.

Arsene Wenger, Fifa’s chief of global football development, stated he was “not involved” in Infantino’s Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal and added that aborting it was “absolutely necessary and beyond question.” Additionally, Prince Ali, president of the Jordanian Football Association, accused Fifa of creating a situation amounting to “blackmail” concerning unpaid prize money and support for Infantino’s re-election. These claims have not been verified, but they reflect strong sentiment among member associations opposing Infantino.

Uefa has expressed a loss of confidence in Infantino’s leadership, and several member associations, including Wales, have withdrawn their support for his re-election. England is reportedly set to follow suit. Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino’s senior adviser on global strategy and governance, resigned over the plan, calling it a “bad deal for football” that would “mortgage football’s future.”

Cordeiro highlighted several unanswered questions about the deal, including its necessity, oversight, beneficiaries, the competitive process, governance structure, and the ultimate cost to football. Member associations were given a deadline of 19 September to approve the plan or risk missing out on additional funding, a tactic Cordeiro criticised as not being a responsible way to determine the future of the sport.

Potential outcomes and future challenges

Despite the mounting pressure, it appears unlikely that Infantino will resign by the end of Wednesday. He has not indicated any intention to relinquish his position and has been attempting to rally support globally. African nations such as Egypt, Morocco, Niger, Mauritania, and DR Congo have issued statements in his support.

However, Infantino will need to address the serious questions arising from what has been a controversial week for Fifa. He may need to demonstrate contrition and propose reforms, such as implementing additional checks and balances to prevent similar proposals from being devised in the future. There is also speculation about whether he might reconsider plans for a 64-team World Cup or open up Fifa’s cash reserves.

If Infantino chooses to continue in his role, Uefa and other confederations may explore alternative avenues to remove him. One option is for the Fifa Council to call an emergency meeting, which would require 19 of the 37 members to request it. Doubts exist, however, about whether the necessary 19 votes could be secured.

Another route is an extraordinary congress of the 211 Fifa member associations, triggered if one-fifth, or 43 associations, make a written request. Uefa, with its 55 nations, could initiate this process, which would take a minimum of two months, or more likely three months. This would effectively be a de facto election, requiring 106 votes for a vote of no confidence to pass.

The deadline for candidates to announce their intention to challenge Infantino at the Fifa Congress in March is 18 November. Concacaf president Victor Montagliani is considered a potential unity candidate to stand against Infantino. Infantino was re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023.

Source: theguardian.com