The Mexican Football Federation (FMF) and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) have publicly endorsed FIFA president Gianni Infantino amid a deepening governance crisis sparked by a controversial plan to sell equity in a proposed tournament operator.
Confederations split on Infantino’s leadership
The dispute centres on FIFA’s proposal to create a new body, reportedly to be called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), and to sell a stake in it to private investors. The plan — which would have included a US$4.2-billion offer for a 20 per cent interest led by the U.S. fund Thrive Eternal — prompted fierce criticism from some corners of world football and has left the organisation sharply divided.
Over the weekend, UEFA said it had lost confidence in Infantino and escalated threats to boycott the World Cup if the matter was not resolved. In contrast, the FMF said it “aligns itself with the call issued by President Infantino … to collectively continue developing football for the benefit of the 211 member associations,” adding that it supports his leadership in strengthening institutions.
“On behalf of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), and its Executive Committee, we address you, dear President… to express our support for the management carried out during the last 10 years,”
Conmebol expressed concern about the lack of consultation but emphasised the need to preserve the unity of the football family ahead of FIFA’s elections in March. Meanwhile, Concacaf called for a “comprehensive reckoning” over Infantino’s presidency.
Financial plan and political fallout
The proposed deal would have placed a minority stake in FFE with an investor group led by Thrive Eternal, a fund run by Joshua Kushner. That connection — and the scale of the transaction — appears to have intensified scrutiny and unease among member associations, particularly in Europe.
UEFA’s warning of a potential boycott underlined how seriously the confederation regarded the breach of trust. A boycott by Europe’s powers would present a grave logistical and reputational threat to any future World Cup, and could complicate preparations and broadcast arrangements already in place.
What is at stake
The controversy touches on several key issues for global football:
- Governance and transparency — member associations are demanding clearer consultation and accountability over major structural changes.
- Commercialisation — the sale of tournament rights or ownership stakes to private investors raises questions about who controls football’s most lucrative assets.
- Unity of confederations — fractures between UEFA, Concacaf, Conmebol and other regional bodies could undermine coordinated decision-making ahead of FIFA elections.
These tensions are occurring with less than a year before FIFA’s presidential election, scheduled for March, making the episode potentially decisive for Infantino’s political future within the organisation.
| Stakeholder | Position |
|---|---|
| FMF (Mexico) | Publicly supports Infantino |
| AFA (Argentina) | Expressed support and praised management |
| UEFA | Lost confidence; threatened boycott |
| Concacaf | Called for a comprehensive reckoning |
| Conmebol | Concerned about lack of consultation; urged unity |
The immediate future of the FFE proposal looks uncertain after the backlash. For FIFA, the incident highlights the difficulty of pursuing large-scale commercial initiatives without broad buy-in from the continental confederations that together govern the sport.
How FIFA manages the fallout will matter for the organisation’s credibility and for the practical delivery of major competitions. If divisions deepen, the coming months could see intensified manoeuvring ahead of the presidential race, with member associations weighing whether to back the incumbent or seek an alternative leadership team.
For now, the public endorsements from two influential national associations underscore that divisions are not uniform. But with UEFA signalling a serious loss of confidence, FIFA faces a governance crisis that could reshape how football’s most valuable tournaments are organised and financed.
