Fifa World Cup sell-off LIVE: Uefa declares loss of confidence in Infantino as controversial plan scrapped | OneFootball

Gianni Infantino has officially scrapped his plan to sell-off stakes in the World Cup but Uefa has come out and declared it has lost confidence in his Fifa presidency after the controversial proposals.

“The current Fifa leadership has not only lost Uefa's confidence but also that of many other members of the football family,” said Uefa in a statement on Saturday morning and claimed “the shabby, back room, opaque deal he hatched and tried to force through were anything but transparent” in a damning missive.

Infantino is now is under mounting pressure from football federations as well as from within Fifa, with his long-term adviser Carlos Cordeiro choosing to quit in protest over Infantino’s initial proposals, while Fifa’s chief operating officer has said that Infantino “deceived” staff over his plans. Questions are beginning to arise as to whether his presidency remains tenable.

Donald Trump meanwhile told reporters on Friday that he had not spoken to Infantino about the plans despite their close relationship and the fact that Josh Kushner, the brother of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, was expected to lead ⁠the proposed investor group.

Who could challenge Infantino for Fifa presidency?

The Independent’s Will Castle outlines six candidates that could challenge Infantino for Fifa’s presidency.

3) Dariusz Mioduski

Uefa members are also exploring the possibility of backing Legia Warsaw owner Dariusz Mioduski.

The Polish lawyer has been mooted by senior federation officials within Bosnia and Herzegovina, Norway, Sweden, Germany and Spain, according to talkSPORT.

But as of now, he would not be the preferred candidate in his homeland, with Poland’s FA keen on Al-Khelaifi.

Uefa declares loss of confidence in Gianni Infantino as backlash to cancelled World Cup sell-off plan builds

Uefa has declared it has lost confidence in the Fifa leadership as president Gianni Infantino faces open revolt over his controversial scheme to sell stakes in the World Cup.

Fifa was forced to climb down on the plans to open the World Cup to private equity investors late on Friday night after backlash from multiple football federations including Uefa, which voted to boycott Fifa tournaments in protest, as well as from within the governing body itself.

Infantino’s long-term adviser Carlos Cordeiro, a key figure within Fifa, chose to quit in protest over the initial proposals, while Fifa’s chief operating officer said that Infantino “deceived” staff over his plans.

Infantino’s position remains under serious threat despite the climbdown, with Uefa announcing on Saturday that it had lost confidence in his leadership and slamming the “shabby, back room” deal.

Uefa statement in full

Here’s the Uefa statement in full. Damning of Infantino.

The statement read: “It is right that, in the coming days and weeks, Uefa will work with its associations and in close cooperation with other confederations to reflect on how this happened and devise a plan to make sure that it cannot occur again. That review should be thorough and fundamental. No option should be off the table.

“The current Fifa leadership has not only lost Uefa's confidence but also that of many other members of the football family.

“When Gianni Infantino asked for the trust and the votes of Fifa’s Member Associations to elect him as their President in 2016, he said, ‘Of course we have to be transparent. I have been this in the last 15 years of my life in Uefa. You will have to play a part every day in the life of Fifa,’ before telling the assembled stakeholders, ‘The money of Fifa is your money. It’s not the money of the Fifa president. It’s your money. You are the national associations and the money of Fifa has to serve for the development of football and not for anything else.’

“On both these promises, he has failed to deliver. The shabby, back room, opaque deal he hatched and tried to force through were anything but transparent.”

Gianni Infantino (right) has been heavily criticised by Uefa, led by Aleksander Ceferin (left) (Getty)

Who could challenge Infantino for Fifa presidency?

The Independent’s Will Castle outlines six candidates that could challenge Infantino for Fifa’s presidency.

2) Nasser Al-Khelaifi

The Independent understands that Paris Saint-Germain president Al-Khelaifi is currently being mooted as a challenger to Infantino.

Al-Khelaifi, whose primary role is chairman of Qatar Sports Investment, holds many senior positions within the game. After the collapse of the doomed European Super League, he was elevated to the top of the game’s main club body, European Football Clubs, which expressed “serious concern” about Infantino’s sell-off plan.

It’s reported by talkSPORT that multiple Uefa federations, including Belgium and Poland, would back Al-Kehaifi, because they see him as having the best chance of toppling Infantino at next year’s presidential election.

However, Al-Khelaifi would need serious persuading to stand as he currently holds no desire to run for office. A representative for Al-Khelaifi said, via Politico: “Nasser has absolutely no ambition, no intention, no interest in the Fifa role, and he will continue to discreetly support all the institutions of world and European football.”

Nasser Al-Khelaifi is fancied by some to challenge Infantino (AFP/Getty)

Luke Baker1 August 2026 10:50

Who could challenge Infantino for Fifa presidency?

The Independent’s Will Castle outlines six candidates that could challenge Infantino for Fifa’s presidency.

1) Aleksander Ceferin

Calls are growing from Uefa member associations to back a candidate to run against Infantino, and the European governing body’s president Ceferin appears the most qualified.

A rival of Infantino, Ceferin most recently no-showed the World Cup 2026 final after the tournament was plagued by controversy, most notably the suspension of Folarin Balogun’s red card ban following a “review” request from Trump, which Uefa said “crossed a red line”.

The Slovenian lawyer has been incumbent since 2016 but is reportedly keen to continue in his current role. He had initially ruled out standing for a third term next spring, at least until 2031, but is now willing to seek re-election if no other candidates step forward.

As things stand, it appears he is not eager to challenge Infantino for Fifa’s presidency, which has led Uefa members to look elsewhere.

Ceferin (left) could be a challenger to Infantino (right) (PA)

Luke Baker1 August 2026 10:35

Trust in Infantino 'badly shaken' says Uefa vice prsident

Uefa vice president Laura McAllister has hit out at Gianni Infantino for his World Cup sell-off plan and says trust in the Fifa boss has been “badly shaken”.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, McAllister said: “It’s not for me to speak for for Uefa at this moment in time, but I think trust in the president of Fifa has been badly shaken this week, without a doubt, and I think quite rightly, people will ask questions about whether he is the leader to take us forward as a global football organisation.

“Because we have to stick to the ethical principles of sustainability, fair play, and accessibility to football that really motivate us all. So I think those are the questions that all of us involved in football will be asking now.”

Asked if she could envision circumstances in which Uefa might find a challenger to him to stand against him, she said: “I think all of the confederations would be considering options now for sure, and we’ll certainly be doing that in Uefa.

“But you know, it’s a democratic election. If people want to stand, they will, and there will be moves, I’m sure, to encourage people to stand. But I think it’s early days yet.”

She later added: “Interestingly, I don’t think the sport of football is damaged by what’s happened this week. I think Fifa as an organisation, is, and I think the president is.”

Uefa vice president Laura McAllister has criticised Infantino (Getty)

Luke Baker1 August 2026 10:20

Infantino's senior adviser quits in protest at World Cup plan

Gianni Infantino’s senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro quit on Friday, only adding to the pressure on the Fifa president.

Cordeiro, in announcing his departure, described the initiative to create Fifa Forward Enterprise as a "bad deal for football".

He elaborated in a statement: "Football has been central to my life and after more than 35 years in banking, I understand both the value of this asset and the consequences of giving part of it away. That is why this proposal should be rejected."

Infantino’s senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro quit on Friday (Getty)

Luke Baker1 August 2026 09:55

Gianni Infantino's statement in full

Here’s Gianni Infantino’s full statement backing down from his World Cup sell-off plan:

“The Fifa Forward Enterprise project was intended to provide a basis for further strengthening our Fifa Member Associations and our sport worldwide, especially in those countries where support is most needed. And more so, as we said from the outset, to do this only if a majority of the Fifa Member Associations were in support and always subject to a consultation process with them, the FIFA Council, the Confederations and wider stakeholders.

“Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place.

“Our purpose has always been - and will always be - to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed.

“Moving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and with the objective to continue growing football everywhere, particularly in those countries that mostly need our support.”

Infantino has officially scrapped his plan to sell off the World Cup (AFP/Getty)