FIFA President Infantino Told to Resign After Spain’s World Cup Triumph
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been told to resign following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup, with LaLiga President Javier Tebas accusing him of putting commercial and political interests ahead of football.
Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in Sunday’s final in New York to win their second World Cup title. But as the Spanish team celebrated, Tebas launched a fresh attack on the leadership of world football’s governing body.
The LaLiga chief criticised several aspects of the tournament, including the introduction of hydration breaks and the extended entertainment programme during the final.
“FIFA organises events according to its own interests rather than for the benefit of football,” Tebas said, according to Tribal Football.
He questioned the decision to introduce hydration breaks in stadiums that were already air-conditioned, arguing that the interruptions appeared to be motivated largely by commercial interests.
“The stadiums in Dallas, Los Angeles and Atlanta were air-conditioned. I even had to wear a sweater in the stands. It was ridiculous. It was all for a commercial interruption,” he said.
Tebas also pointed to the controversy involving United States striker Folarin Balogun, suggesting that FIFA could have faced a major crisis had the United States progressed further in the competition.
“They were fortunate that Belgium eliminated the USA. Otherwise, there could have been a scandal that might have cost Infantino his position,” he said.
“With Belgium’s victory, they managed to suppress the issue. But this is only the tip of the iceberg. Infantino should resign. His time has come.”
Despite his criticism, Tebas admitted that Infantino remains strongly supported by national football federations and the wider establishment, making a leadership change difficult.
“There is no opposing candidate. Nobody wants to run for a position they are likely to lose. The system is fundamentally flawed,” he said.
FIFA and Infantino faced scrutiny throughout the tournament over changes to the traditional organisation of the competition.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin also reportedly stayed away from the final in New York amid tensions surrounding FIFA’s handling of the tournament.
The Balogun controversy attracted further attention after United States President Donald Trump disclosed that he had asked Infantino to review the decision involving the striker following his red card. The subsequent review led to the suspension of the ban.
For Tebas, however, the controversy reflects a wider problem within FIFA.
And with the World Cup now over, his call has placed a new question at the centre of football’s post-tournament conversation: How long can Gianni Infantino remain in charge?
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