Just hours after Spain lifted the 2026 World Cup trophy, the president of La Liga, Javier Tebas, declared that FIFA president Gianni Infantino's "time is up". Tebas accused Infantino of "destroying the football industry" by prioritising the World Cup over domestic competitions. Even Infantino's predecessor, Sepp Blatter, joined the call for him to resign, urging "fans, players and national associations to reclaim football". But with Infantino expected to be re-elected unopposed for a fourth term in March 2027, can anything actually change?
At the heart of the controversy is the balance of power between FIFA, the world governing body, and the domestic leagues that generate the bulk of football's revenue. Tebas claims that Infantino is pushing an agenda that harms national competitions. He points to the expansion of the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams for the 2026 tournament, and to Infantino's suggestion that the 2030 World Cup could be expanded further to 64 teams. "Increasing the number of national teams makes no sense," Tebas told Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. "The football industry is not just the World Cup... It is national competitions that support this sport." He added that FIFA's decisions are "destroying the football industry, which generates tens of thousands of jobs, for an event that lasts 40 days and involves a minority of players."
“Why Javier Tebas and Sepp Blatter want FIFA president Gianni Infantino to resign over World Cup expansion and governance issues.”
Gianni Infantino has been FIFA president since 2016, when he won an emergency election following the corruption scandal that forced Blatter out. Since then, he has been re-elected twice without opposition. Tebas described FIFA's election system as "rotten at its core", noting that no candidate wants to stand just to lose. The result is that Infantino has consolidated power with the support of national federations. This year's World Cup also saw controversy when the USA striker Folarin Balogun had a one-match ban suspended after a phone call from US President Donald Trump to Infantino. European football's governing body UEFA called the decision "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable". Tebas argued that if the USA had beaten Belgium in the round of 16, the scandal might have cost Infantino his job, but Belgium's win allowed FIFA to "bury the matter".
For UK fans, the dispute matters because it directly affects the Premier League and other domestic competitions. A larger World Cup means more matches, more travel and less rest for top players — many of whom ply their trade in England. It also puts pressure on the international match calendar, squeezing the space for domestic fixtures. Tebas warned that future decisions are being made "irresponsibly", with little regard for the health of the national leagues that underpin the global game. If the World Cup expands further, the impact on player welfare and the quality of domestic football could become even more acute.
Q: Why do La Liga and Sepp Blatter want Gianni Infantino to resign? Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, argues that Infantino is putting the World Cup ahead of national competitions, which he says sustain the football industry. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter also called for Infantino to step down, urging stakeholders to "reclaim football and bring it back to its roots". The controversy has been fuelled by Infantino's handling of a suspension for USA striker Folarin Balogun, which was overturned after involvement from Donald Trump.
Q: What is the controversy around expanding the World Cup to 64 teams? Infantino opened the door to a 64-team World Cup for the 2030 tournament. Tebas said such a move "makes no sense" and would damage domestic leagues. The 2026 World Cup was the first with 48 teams, up from 32. Critics argue that a 64-team tournament would dilute quality and increase the burden on players, while only benefiting FIFA's commercial interests.
Q: How does FIFA's presidential election work and why is Infantino likely to win again? FIFA's president is elected by its 211 member associations. Infantino is expected to stand for a fourth term at the FIFA Congress in March 2027. He has faced no opponent since 2016. Tebas claims the system is "rotten at its core" because national federations, many of which benefit from FIFA funding, are reluctant to oppose the incumbent. Without a credible challenger, Infantino is almost certain to be re-elected.
What happens next? The FIFA Congress in March 2027 will decide Infantino's future. Unless a challenger emerges, he will be re-elected unopposed. Meanwhile, discussions on expanding the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams are expected to continue, drawing further opposition from domestic leagues. The fallout from the Balogun suspension — and the role of political interference — may also linger. For now, the calls for change remain loud, but the path to achieving it is unclear.