Lagos, Nigeria – Several football stakeholders and political leaders issued statements on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, opposing a reported proposal by FIFA to sell a stake in the commercial operations of the FIFA World Cup and other competitions through a semi-private subsidiary. CONCACAF and the English Football Association released separate statements citing a lack of consultation regarding the plan. Javier Tebas, president of La Liga in Spain, accused FIFA President Gianni Infantino of utilizing the commercial rights of the organization for political purposes. Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter alleged that the relationship between Infantino and United States President Donald Trump influenced the proposal. “The close relationship between the FIFA president and the US President has reached a financial dimension that is deeply damaging football.