The fallout from the 2026 FIFA World Cup has escalated into one of the biggest leadership challenges of Gianni Infantino's presidency, with senior figures across European football accusing FIFA of putting commercial gain and political influence ahead of the long-term health of the sport.
Spain's 1-0 extra-time victory over defending champion Argentina in the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium on July 19 brought the curtain down on the first 48-team tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
While Infantino hailed the competition as "the greatest human, social and cultural event that mankind has witnessed," the tournament has instead fueled growing criticism over fixture congestion, governance, commercialization and political interference.
Leading that criticism is La Liga president Javier Tebas, who on Tuesday said Infantino should step down, accusing FIFA of "destroying the football industry" by prioritizing an expanded international calendar over the domestic leagues that underpin the global game.
"The football industry isn't just the World Cup," Tebas told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "National competitions sustain this sport. They generate tens of thousands of jobs. They are destroying the football industry for an event that lasts 40 days and involves only a minority of players."
