UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF issue open letter criticizing FIFA president Gianni Infantino

On August 10, 2026, the football confederations of Europe (UEFA), Asia (AFC), and North/Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) issued a joint open letter strongly criticizing FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The statement accuses the Swiss administrator of breaking trust through "deception" and placing his own interests above the collective during his tenure.

The conflict stems from a controversial proposal, now abandoned, to sell a 20% stake in the commercial rights of the World Cup to private investors to raise $4.2 billion. The three confederations are demanding a fully independent review of the process. In response to the proposal, UEFA, supported by the AFC and CONCACAF, has threatened a potential boycott of future FIFA tournaments unless they receive guarantees that similar schemes will not be revisited.

Sources suggest the letter serves as a challenge to Infantino’s leadership ahead of the presidential election scheduled for March 2027. Some officials view this public revolt as an opportunity for the president to step down with his remaining dignity, as pressure mounts within the global football community to prioritize unity over individual command.