Infantino urges consultation with federations over FIFA decision‑making in letter to 211 members
FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Monday, September 21, 2026, proposed a structured consultation with member federations to reform the governing body's decision‑making processes in a letter addressed to the 211 member associations, AFP reported.
Infantino's letter follows intense criticism after his now‑abandoned proposal to introduce private investment into the men's and women's World Cups via a commercial vehicle under the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative; the scheme would have allowed private investors to acquire stakes in a company created for FIFA's biggest events, and strong backlash led to the plans being shelved.
In the letter Infantino wrote: "I will propose that the Council establish a direct, structured and time‑limited consultation with confederations, Member Associations and relevant stakeholders on how FIFA's decision‑making can be further strengthened." He added that the consultation should seek concrete suggestions on institutional roles and processes.
The document continued: "The consultation would invite specific proposals on earlier institutional involvement, the respective roles of the President, the Bureau, the Council and the Congress, and practical ways to strengthen transparency, participation and accountability in major strategic initiatives." Infantino requested that initial proposals be considered at the Council meeting scheduled for October 15, 2026.
Addressing the FFE plan directly, Infantino wrote that "FIFA's democratic processes, independence and sporting authority were never for sale" and that the proposal "did not involve relinquishing FIFA's control or authority over sporting decisions." He also said the scheme had "entered the public domain before FIFA's planned institutional process had been completed and before it could be presented in full to the Council and the Member Associations." "I recognise that, without the full context, this caused concern and created the impression that decisions had already been taken. They had not," Infantino added, concluding: "Major ideas must be developed, tested and communicated through clear and trusted institutions. That is a responsibility I take seriously."
European governing body UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation issued a joint letter in August sharply critical of Infantino, writing: "Leadership in football is not a possession. It is not about holding — or demanding — power to be held." At the same time, the letter noted that Infantino has received backing from 2034 World Cup hosts Saudi Arabia, and from African and South American confederations CAF and CONMEBOL.
FIFA confirmed earlier in September that Infantino will stand for re‑election as president next March; he is currently the only declared candidate, with CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani widely viewed as a potential challenger. Candidate nominations for the election must be submitted by November 18.
