Javier Tebas Urges Gianni Infantino to Resign, Accuses FIFA of Damaging Football Industry

KUALA LUMPUR, JULY 2026 – LaLiga president Javier Tebas has intensified his criticism of FIFA by calling on its president, Gianni Infantino, to resign over what he described as policies that are damaging the wider football industry.

Speaking in an interview with Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tebas said he believed Infantino’s time as FIFA president should come to an end. He argued that FIFA’s continued expansion of international competitions was placing domestic leagues and clubs under growing pressure.

Infantino announced in April that he intends to seek another term as FIFA president for the 2027–2031 cycle. The election is scheduled to take place in Morocco on March 18, 2027. Tebas acknowledged that Infantino continues to enjoy strong support among national football federations, despite criticism from several figures within the sport.

According to Tebas, the absence of a credible opposing candidate means Infantino is unlikely to be removed through the existing electoral system. He said several football officials privately disagreed with FIFA’s direction but had failed to organise meaningful opposition to its leadership.

A major point of disagreement is the possibility of expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams. The proposal has gained renewed attention after CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez suggested enlarging the 2030 centenary tournament, while Infantino has indicated that the idea could be considered.

The 2026 World Cup was already the first edition to feature 48 teams and 104 matches. Maintaining a similar competition structure with 64 participants could increase the tournament to 128 matches and potentially add another week to an event that already lasts more than five weeks.

Tebas argued that national leagues form the foundation of professional football because they operate throughout the year, support clubs at different levels and generate employment across the industry. He warned that placing greater emphasis on a tournament lasting several weeks could weaken competitions responsible for sustaining the sport’s long-term commercial structure.

He has repeatedly raised concerns about fixture congestion, player workload and the effect of expanded FIFA competitions on domestic scheduling. A larger World Cup could also increase pressure on stadiums, transport, accommodation and other infrastructure while creating further disruption for national leagues.

Tebas also criticised FIFA’s handling of the one-match suspension imposed on United States striker Folarin Balogun following his red card during the World Cup. The ban was suspended after U.S. President Donald Trump contacted Infantino and publicly called for the player to be allowed to compete. Infantino acknowledged receiving the call but said he did not interfere with the decision-making process.

Balogun was subsequently available for the United States’ round-of-16 match against Belgium, which the Americans lost 4-1. Tebas argued that the incident raised serious questions about political influence and FIFA’s disciplinary independence.

His remarks emerged amid wider tensions between FIFA and European football authorities. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin did not attend the 2026 World Cup final following reported disagreements concerning disciplinary processes, refereeing logistics and tournament operations.

Opposition to a 64-team World Cup has also come from UEFA and the Asian Football Confederation. Critics argue that further expansion could reduce the importance of regional qualifying competitions, increase costs for national federations and place additional physical demands on players.

The 2030 World Cup is scheduled to be staged mainly in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay each hosting an opening match to commemorate the competition’s centenary. Expanding that edition to 64 teams would significantly increase the organisational demands across the six participating host nations.

Tebas’ latest intervention highlights the deepening debate over whether FIFA’s strategy is expanding football’s global reach or shifting too much sporting and financial power away from domestic competitions. The dispute is expected to remain a major issue ahead of the next FIFA presidential election and future decisions concerning the World Cup format.