World Cup co-hosts US and Canada oppose Infantino

The football federations of the United States and Canada, both co-hosts for the 2026 World Cup, have publicly aligned themselves with a critical statement targeting FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

US Soccer and Canada Soccer announced their support for a joint declaration issued by three major confederations: UEFA (Europe), CONCACAF (North, Central America, and the Caribbean), and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). This collective voice asserts that "football belongs to no individual" and emphasizes that leadership in the sport is not a possession or a demand for power.

The federations' joint statement calls for "meaningful change that strengthens FIFA’s governance, transparency and accountability." This position places the US and Canada in opposition to Mexico, the third co-host nation for the 2026 World Cup, which has publicly backed Infantino.

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stand together, along with our colleagues around the world, in calling for meaningful change that strengthens FIFA’s governance, transparency and accountability

Infantino has faced significant pressure following his proposal and subsequent shelving of plans for a new commercial subsidiary, the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), intended to manage World Cup commercial activities. FIFA had previously responded to what it called a "concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine" the organization and its president.

The joint letter from the confederations underscores a growing sentiment that the sport should not be controlled by any single person, directly challenging Infantino's leadership approach amidst these controversies.

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Leadership in football is not a possession. It is not about holding, or demanding, power to be held