La Liga chief Javier Tebas has launched a scathing attack on FIFA president Gianni Infantino, demanding that he step down amid a brewing dispute over the sport’s global tournament.
Tebas argues that plans to expand the World Cup to 64 teams would damage the very fabric of football, turning the competition into a commercial gimmick rather than a celebration of sporting excellence.
Debate Over Expansion and Governance
He has singled out the 2026 edition, currently being staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico, for a litany of shortcomings, from cumbersome visa procedures and inflated ticket prices to what he calls politically motivated interference in match decisions.
Tebas also pointed to the controversial overturning of Folarin Balogun's red‑card suspension, labeling it another example of political meddling that undermines sporting fairness.
Alejandro Dominguez, president of South American governing body Conmebol, recently announced that the 2030 World Cup will feature 64 participating nations, a move Tebas deems misguided and harmful to the sport’s competitive balance.
Infantino, however, has brushed off the criticism, hailing the 2026 tournament as an "incredible success" and insisting that "nothing can touch the power and the magic of the World Cup." He has also hinted that the competition could grow even further.
The next FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March 18, a date that will determine whether Infantino remains at the helm or whether a new vision for the sport’s flagship event emerges.