{
  "id": 222516,
  "title": "FIFA apologizes for failed Infantino bid to sell the World Cup to Trump’s in-laws, but throws ‘full support’ behind his continued presidency",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/fifa-apologizes-for-failed-infantino-bid-to-sell-the-world-cup-to",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-08-06T13:45:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fortune",
    "slug": "fortune",
    "url": "https://fortune.com/2026/08/06/infantino-world-cup-kushner-fifa-crisis/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "FIFA issued an apology on Wednesday for the mistakes surrounding Gianni Infantino's failed attempt to sell World Cup stakes, emphasizing that senior staff at a crisis meeting in Morocco had reaffirmed their full support for the embattled president. The statement admitted the process should have been handled differently and pledged to prevent such errors from recurring in the future. Secretary-General Mattias Grafström's support was particularly notable, as he had distanced himself from Infantino's abandoned plans in an internal email. The FFE proposal, which aimed to create a commercial subsidiary for profits, was now off the table.\n\nEuropean leagues, including the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A, have called for FIFA governance reform, describing the FFE proposal as \"dangerous\" and highlighting deeper concerns about FIFA's operations. They urged \"serious questions\" about FIFA's governance, internal culture, and decision-making, warning that until reforms are made, they would reject expansion or creation of new FIFA competitions.\n\nPortugal and Real Madrid legend Luis Figo also called on Infantino to step down, stating he had \"debased the office.\" FIFA rejected a British media report claiming Infantino had offered Morocco the hosting rights for the 2030 World Cup final, insisting any decision would be made by FIFA in due course. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed no confidence in Infantino, citing a \"fatal\" governance failure for not consulting senior advisers. The turmoil surrounding FIFA and Infantino's presidency comes ahead of the March elections, with UEFA and CONCACAF expressing their loss of confidence in FIFA's leadership.",
  "summary": "Luis Figo says Gianni Infantino \"debased the office.\" Canada's prime minister says he's lost confidence. FIFA's own board just backed him anyway.",
  "key_points": [
    "FIFA apologizes for Infantino's failed World Cup sale attempt.",
    "Senior staff reaffirm full support for embattled president.",
    "European leagues demand FIFA governance reform."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "FIFA closes ranks round Infantino amid mounting leadership crisis",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/fifa-closes-ranks-round-infantino-amid-mounting-leadership-crisis",
        "published": "2026-08-06T16:52:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NPR",
        "title": "European nations say World Cup boycott is still on, keeping FIFA's Infantino in limbo",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/european-nations-say-world-cup-boycott-is-still-on-keeping-fifas",
        "published": "2026-08-06T17:11:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Financial Times",
        "title": "Uefa doubles down on World Cup boycott in effort to oust Infantino",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/uefa-doubles-down-on-world-cup-boycott-in-effort-to-oust-infantino",
        "published": "2026-08-06T18:37:45.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "UEFA doubles down on FIFA boycott threat as Infantino pressure grows",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/uefa-doubles-down-on-fifa-boycott-threat-as-infantino-pressure-grows",
        "published": "2026-08-06T21:19:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Mexico, Argentina back Infantino as FIFA fight rages on",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/mexico-argentina-back-infantino-as-fifa-fight-rages-on",
        "published": "2026-08-07T05:05:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Semafor",
        "title": "African football backs FIFA’s Infantino",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/african-football-backs-fifas-infantino",
        "published": "2026-08-07T05:52:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "CAF backs FIFA after governance apology, endorses Infantino",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/caf-backs-fifa-after-governance-apology-endorses-infantino",
        "published": "2026-08-07T09:00:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Argentina and Mexico join Africa in backing FIFA’s Infantino: What to know",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/argentina-and-mexico-join-africa-in-backing-fifas-infantino-what-to",
        "published": "2026-08-07T12:23:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Live Mint",
        "title": "NEET paper leak masterminds used ‘FIFA World Cup 2026’ WhatsApp group: Secret chats play major role in CBI crackdown",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/neet-paper-leak-masterminds-used-fifa-world-cup-2026-whatsapp-group",
        "published": "2026-08-07T16:08:36.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}