The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) officially demanded the resignation of FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Friday, 7 August 2026, following a controversial attempt to privatise commercial rights to the World Cup. The call comes amidst escalating tensions within global football governance regarding the now-abandoned ‘FIFA Forward Enterprise’ investment plan.
Pressure Mounts From European Bodies
NFF president Lise Klaveness confirmed the organisation’s formal stance, stating: “We (NFF) are going to ask the FIFA president to resign now.” This demand is supported by UEFA, which maintains a position of no confidence in Infantino and has previously threatened to boycott FIFA-sanctioned competitions.
Former Portuguese star Luis Figo added his voice to the criticism during discussions on the fallout, remarking: “Infantino has debased the office that he promised to elevate. He has lied, deceived and tried to feather his own nest at the expense of the game he is supposed to serve.”
Internal Divisions And The Path To 2027
Despite the backlash from European federations, Infantino retains significant backing from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and football associations in Argentina, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Mexico. CONMEBOL representative Alejandro Domínguez advocated for continued engagement, noting: “We must continue working for football through dialogue; it is not necessary to always agree.”
Infantino, who recently apologised to member associations for the failed privatisation bid, remains the only candidate currently confirmed for the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027 in Rabat. While some reports suggest political horse-trading may have influenced regional support, these claims remain unverified and are being checked by our desk.
The impact of this division remains to be seen as the March 2027 election approaches. We will continue to track developments and provide updates as further responses emerge from national federations.