FIFA President Gianni Infantino has summoned senior officials to an emergency crisis meeting in Rabat on Wednesday, seeking to contain a deepening revolt that now threatens his tenure, after abandoning his plan to sell World Cup stakes to private investors. FIFA Council members are scrambling to secure a 19-vote majority to demand a formal accountability session, with opponents threatening a governance boycott if the threshold is not met. The English and Welsh football associations have formally withdrawn their support for any Infantino re-election bid. The agenda will also address the handling of Folarin Balogun's case during the 2026 World Cup.
The crisis has widened with Jordan's federation chief Prince Ali bin al-Hussein accusing Infantino of extortion, alleging that $4.2 million in Arab Cup prize money owed to Jordan has been withheld and that he was verbally told supporting Infantino would benefit his federation.
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström lamented a "sad and deplorable series of events," while global development director Arsène Wenger has distanced himself from the president. Rabat will also host FIFA's 77th Congress and the 2027 presidential elections.