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The fallout from the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues to grow, with one of world football’s most influential executives now openly calling for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to step down.
La Liga president Javier Tebas launched a scathing attack on Infantino following the conclusion of the tournament, accusing FIFA’s leadership of putting commercial interests ahead of the sport and describing the organization’s current structure as “a system rotten at its core.”
Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport after Spain captured the 2026 World Cup title, Tebas said he believes Infantino’s time leading world football should come to an end.
“In my opinion, yes, I think his time is up,” Tebas said when asked whether Infantino should resign.
However, Tebas acknowledged that removing the FIFA president is unlikely because of the strong political support Infantino continues to enjoy among national football federations.
“He has the support of the system, of the federations, so there’s not much more to add. There’s no opposition candidate; nobody wants to stand just to lose. This is the system, and it’s a system rotten at its core. He shouldn’t stay, but the current state of affairs means he won’t leave.”
Infantino, who has served as FIFA president since 2016, oversaw one of the most financially successful World Cups in history. FIFA is expected to report record revenues of approximately $15 billion from the 2026 tournament, a figure that highlights the event’s enormous commercial success.
Still, the competition was accompanied by numerous controversies.
Among the biggest talking points were soaring ticket prices that priced out many supporters, criticism of Infantino’s close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump during the tournament, and FIFA’s expanded use of hydration breaks, which some observers argued disrupted the flow of matches.
Those hydration breaks became one of Tebas’ strongest criticisms.
“FIFA arranges things as it pleases, for what it wants, for its own interests, certainly not for football,” Tebas said.
“So, if they need a 27-minute halftime break, they’ll have it. Hydration breaks are a lie.”
The La Liga chief contrasted FIFA’s approach with Spain’s domestic league, where cooling breaks are only used during extreme heat.
“We have them in La Liga, but only when it’s genuinely hot,” Tebas explained. “Here, the pitches in Dallas, Los Angeles and Atlanta had air conditioning; I had to put on a jumper in the stands. It was a lie, a break for advertising.”
His comments reflect a broader concern shared by some club executives that FIFA is increasingly prioritizing commercial opportunities over the integrity and rhythm of matches.
Tebas also criticized discussions about expanding the World Cup even further. FIFA has reportedly considered increasing the tournament to 64 national teams for the 2030 edition, an idea that Tebas believes would further damage domestic football.
“Increasing the number of national teams makes no sense,” he said.
“The football industry isn’t just the World Cup. It’s the national competitions that sustain this sport.”
According to Tebas, expanding international tournaments places additional strain on players while threatening the financial stability of domestic leagues that operate year-round.
“They 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,” Tebas said.
“We need fewer national teams and more protection for national football, at all levels. They don’t realize they are making irresponsible decisions.”
Despite the mounting criticism from prominent figures like Tebas, Infantino remains firmly in charge of FIFA. With record revenues, broad backing from member federations and no significant challenger emerging, the FIFA president appears well-positioned to continue leading world football—even as debate over the sport’s future grows louder.
