In a letter obtained by the Associated Press, UEFA and CONCACAF officials are pressing FIFA to distribute a one‑time payment of $10 million to each of its 211 member federations. The request comes as the soccer governing body anticipates cash reserves of roughly $6 billion after the successful 2026 World Cup hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Letter details and financial context
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and CONCACAF leader Victor Montagliani told President Gianni Infantino that the organization can afford a “one‑off release” of $2.1 billion – the total amount required to give every federation $10 million. They argue that the proposed distribution would be a responsible use of the surplus, especially as FIFA has already pledged $20 million per federation through 2030, a commitment they say will remain fully funded.
Political backdrop within FIFA
The demand for the additional payments is part of a broader effort by the two confederations to challenge Infantino’s leadership. Ceferin and Montagliani have signaled a desire to see Infantino removed either before or during the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027. Their opposition intensified after Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in the tournament to private investors – a deal involving a venture led by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, son‑in‑law of President Trump – sparked a global backlash in July.
While Infantino has cultivated ties with the Trump administration ahead of the North‑American World Cup, the current controversy centers on concerns about transparency and the potential commercialization of the sport’s premier event.
Support and opposition among FIFA’s regions
The letter notes that the Asian Football Confederation has also voiced criticism of Infantino in recent weeks. In contrast, soccer bodies in South America and Africa have publicly backed the president, even as Infantino traveled to the Caribbean to shore up support among CONCACAF members despite Montagliani’s request that he not visit.
Ceferin and Montagliani plan to inform the presidents of the other four confederations of their motion, seeking a united front at an upcoming FIFA Council meeting in Zurich on October 15. The meeting will be the first Infantino‑chaired council session since the private‑equity proposal was disclosed.
Legal and investigative actions
UEFA has also pursued legal avenues, asking courts in Manhattan and Florida to authorize discovery of documents from Kushner’s investment firm and from FIFA itself. The European body seeks evidence for a potential criminal complaint in Switzerland concerning the $20 billion commercial spinoff project known as FIFA Forward Enterprise.
These steps underscore the escalating tension within the sport’s global governance structure as stakeholders debate the future financial direction of FIFA.
Implications for the upcoming election
FIFA’s election timetable sets a November 18 deadline for candidates to file, with the final vote slated for four months later in Rabat, Morocco – a nation that has aligned itself with Infantino’s vision for the 2030 World Cup, co‑hosted by Spain and Portugal.
Although Infantino appeared poised for an unopposed re‑election before the investment controversy erupted, the current push for a $10 million per‑federation payout could reshape the power dynamics ahead of the March 2027 presidential contest.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
