Gianni Infantino's plan to sell a stake in the World Cup and the revolt at FIFA

Active · last development Sep 29: “Fifa accuses Uefa of 'misinformation campaign'”

What this arc covers

The crisis over FIFA President Gianni Infantino after the 2026 World Cup: his plan to sell World Cup profits to private equity and its abandonment, the resignations of FIFA officials, the loss of confidence voiced by UEFA and other confederations, the countries withdrawing support, UEFA's boycott threat and planned criminal complaint, Trump's suggestion of Infantino for UN secretary-general, and Infantino's decision to seek re-election.

Photo from East Idaho News, with Top European leagues demand FIFA reforms, piling pressure on Infantino (Sep 25), the story with the most independent sources this week.

Earliest story we hold Jul 6, 2026 · 37 stories · 118 independent sources (counted once each) · 85 days

Part ofFIFAGianni InfantinoDonald TrumpMoroccoUnited NationsQatarSerbiaSpain

Part of The 2026 World Cup

  1. The 2026 World Cup knockout rounds and Spain's win over ArgentinaJul 2 – Jul 19, 2026
  2. Gianni Infantino's plan to sell a stake in the World Cup and the revolt at FIFAThis arcJul 6 – Sep 29, 2026

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Sep 29Fifa accuses Uefa of 'misinformation campaign'5 articles · 5 independent sources
1 left, 2 center, 0 right
Sep 25Top European leagues demand FIFA reforms, piling pressure on Infantino7 articles · 6 independent sources
0 left, 2 center, 0 right
Sep 21– 22Infantino says he is open to Fifa reform9 articles · 8 independent sources
0 left, 3 center, 0 right

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

  1. Jul 28 – 31European football vows to boycott World Cups if FIFA brings in private investors206 articles · 72 independent sources
    1. Jul 28FIFA plan for Kushner-backed $20 billion operation to run World Cup meets fury from Europe's UEFA
    2. Jul 29Only center coverage:FIFA's Infantino sets deadline for $20M offer to members in World Cup investor plan
    3. Jul 29FIFA's Infantino sets deadline for $20M offer to members in Kushner-backed World Cup investor plan
    4. Jul 30European soccer teams agree to boycott FIFA over private equity proposal
    5. Jul 30Opposition to FIFA’s World Cup private equity plan grows as Asia warns of risks and Europeans meet
  2. Jul 31Senior FIFA official resigns over Infantino's World Cup sell-off plan. Second says it deceived staff24 articles · 18 independent sources
  3. Jul 31 – Aug 6FIFA leadership backs president Gianni Infantino following crisis meeting in Morocco28 articles · 19 independent sources
    1. Jul 31Courting controversy and befriending Trump - the story of Fifa boss Infantino
    2. Aug 1FIFA World Cup crisis: Who could replace Infantino as president?
    3. Aug 4FIFA president Infantino's problems mount as key FIFA allies turn on him
    4. Aug 5Infantino gets internal support at crisis meeting to remain FIFA president
  4. Jul 31 – Aug 3UEFA says it has lost confidence in FIFA's Infantino after failed private equity plan for World Cup35 articles · 23 independent sources
  5. Jul 31 – Aug 1FIFA president abandons plans to sell World Cup profits to private equity after massive pushback58 articles · 17 independent sources
  6. Aug 6 – 7UEFA maintains World Cup boycott threat after Gianni Infantino’s crisis meeting22 articles · 18 independent sources
  7. Aug 8 – 11UEFA, CONCACAF and AFC accuse Gianni Infantino of 'fundamental breach of trust'115 articles · 40 independent sources
    1. Aug 8Only center coverage:UEFA confirms payout to ex-employee under Infantino, amid denials of an affair
    2. Aug 8FIFA defends Infantino against allegations tied to his time at UEFA
    3. Aug 10FIFA accused of 'deception' and 'breach of trust' over World Cup plans
    4. Aug 11Donald Trump jumps in to support Gianni Infantino as FIFA president clings on to power

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

Jul 6Jul 20Aug 10Aug 24Sep 14Sep 28

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Jul 6, 20262028
Jul 13, 202621213
Jul 20, 202604731
Jul 27, 202621489381
Aug 3, 2026514368
Aug 10, 2026113196
Aug 17, 202626019
Aug 24, 2026512239
Aug 31, 202635113
Sep 7, 20261206
Sep 21, 20260409
Sep 28, 20261102

24% left · 63% center · 13% right of 118 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 37 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. July 2026

    Jul 6– 9FIFA's Infantino targeted by complaint to Olympic ethics body after Trump lobbying on Balogun ban9 articles · 8 independent sources
    2 left, 0 center, 2 right
  2. Jul 17– 18FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks at UN, proclaims the World Cup a success14 articles · 9 independent sources
    2 left, 1 center, 2 right
  3. Jul 21Tebas: Infantino should resign for 'destroying the football industry'9 articles · 9 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 1 right
  4. Jul 21– 22Trump wants to nominate FIFA boss Gianni Infantino for UN secretary general following World Cup5 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 4 right
  5. Jul 23– 24Trump role in World Cup red-card ruling for Balogun pushes Norway toward FIFA ethics complaint21 articles · 17 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 4 right
  6. Jul 27– 28FIFA's Infantino targets critics he says spread 'hate and false rumors' about World Cup18 articles · 16 independent sources
    3 left, 2 center, 2 right
  7. Jul 28– 31European football vows to boycott World Cups if FIFA brings in private investors206 articles · 72 independent sources
    12 left, 28 center, 5 right
  8. Jul 30– Aug 1FIFA World Cup fallout: Infantino scraps private investment plan23 articles · 15 independent sources
    3 left, 8 center, 1 right
  9. Jul 31– Aug 1FIFA chief Infantino abandons World Cup sell-off plans after backlash10 articles · 9 independent sources
    3 left, 1 center, 1 right
  10. Jul 31Senior FIFA official resigns over Infantino's World Cup sell-off plan. Second says it deceived staff24 articles · 18 independent sources
    0 left, 7 center, 3 right
  11. Jul 31– Aug 6FIFA leadership backs president Gianni Infantino following crisis meeting in Morocco28 articles · 19 independent sources
    2 left, 5 center, 1 right
  12. Jul 31– Aug 3UEFA says it has lost confidence in FIFA's Infantino after failed private equity plan for World Cup35 articles · 23 independent sources
    3 left, 10 center, 0 right
  13. Jul 31FIFA adviser on White House Task Force for World Cup, Carlos Cordeiro, resigns in protest at private equity plan5 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 0 right
  14. Jul 31Top FIFA executive resigns over controversial World Cup sell-off plan8 articles · 1 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  15. Jul 31– Aug 1FIFA ditches plan to seek private investment for World Cup19 articles · 17 independent sources
    3 left, 4 center, 1 right
  16. Jul 31– Aug 1FIFA scraps controversial $20 billion World Cup investment plan10 articles · 8 independent sources
    0 left, 4 center, 0 right
  17. Jul 31– Aug 1FIFA president abandons plans to sell World Cup profits to private equity after massive pushback58 articles · 17 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 1 right

  18. August 2026

    Aug 1UEFA says it's lost confidence in FIFA's Infantino after failed private equity plan12 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 0 right
  19. Aug 1European soccer declares loss of confidence in FIFA chief over ’shabby’ private financing plan6 articles · 6 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  20. Aug 2– 6Gianni Infantino gets internal support at crisis meeting to remain as FIFA president9 articles · 9 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 0 right
  21. Aug 3– 4Serbia, Sweden follow Wales in withdrawing support for Infantino re-election4 articles · 4 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
  22. Aug 6– 7UEFA maintains World Cup boycott threat after Gianni Infantino’s crisis meeting22 articles · 18 independent sources
    2 left, 8 center, 0 right
  23. Aug 8– 11UEFA, CONCACAF and AFC accuse Gianni Infantino of 'fundamental breach of trust'115 articles · 40 independent sources
    1 left, 13 center, 3 right
  24. Aug 13– 14FIFA chief Infantino receives support from 6 Arab federations amid revolt over World Cup plan11 articles · 11 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  25. Aug 17– 18A top official leaves FIFA, deepening the fallout from Infantino’s World Cup sell-off plan11 articles · 8 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 0 right
  26. Aug 20Soccer fans launch global petition urging FIFA boss Infantino to resign over World Cup 'betrayal'5 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
  27. Aug 22– 23Infantino defies FIFA vice president by going to youth event in Caribbean amid global soccer rift8 articles · 7 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 0 right
  28. Aug 23– 24UEFA president Ceferin says he won't run against FIFA president but calls for Infantino to quit6 articles · 6 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 0 right
  30. Aug 26– 27UEFA set to drop boycott threat, handing FIFA some breathing room, per AP18 articles · 16 independent sources
    0 left, 5 center, 0 right
  31. Aug 27– 28UEFA preparing criminal complaint against FIFA leader Gianni Infantino20 articles · 17 independent sources
    5 left, 7 center, 2 right

  32. September 2026

    Sep 3– 4FIFA blasts UEFA ‘smear campaign,’ fights World Cup plan disclosures8 articles · 7 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
  33. Sep 6Fifa president Infantino will stand for re-election12 articles · 11 independent sources
    2 left, 4 center, 1 right
  34. Sep 10France withdraws support for Infantino in FIFA presidential election8 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
  35. Sep 21– 22Infantino says he is open to Fifa reform9 articles · 8 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 0 right
  36. Sep 25Top European leagues demand FIFA reforms, piling pressure on Infantino7 articles · 6 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 0 right
  37. Sep 29Fifa accuses Uefa of 'misinformation campaign'5 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 0 right