UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC — three of FIFA's four largest confederations — have joined forces to renew their demand that embattled president Gianni Infantino step down from his post.

In an open letter, the three confederations accuse Infantino of failing to acknowledge that his proposal to effectively privatise the World Cup constituted "a fundamental breach of trust" rather than merely "a procedural misstep."

"Leadership in football is not a possession. It is not about holding – or demanding – power to be held. It is a duty of service to the football family that entrusts it," the letter states.

"When trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned."

The letter continues: "There is silence where there should be accountability, distance where there should be openness. These are not the qualities football deserves in its leadership."

"That is why we have taken this stance: not lightly and not alone, but together, and out of duty to the game we serve."

"Football's strength has always been its unity. We call for that unity to be honoured now, for leadership that serves football, not seeks to command it."

Why the UEFA–CONCACAF–AFC Alliance Could Be Decisive

The coalition of UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC — representing Europe; Central and North America and the Caribbean; and Asia respectively — poses a direct threat to Infantino's presidency, as together they account for a majority of FIFA's 211 member associations. CAF, the African confederation with 54 member associations, and CONMEBOL, representing South American football, have not publicly aligned with the coalition, leaving their positions as a critical factor in whether the alliance can force a leadership change.

However, some individual football associations, including those of Qatar and Mexico, have publicly backed the FIFA president, signalling that consensus among the confederations is not absolute.

Infantino has faced mounting pressure since plans emerged a fortnight ago to sell off stakes in a newly created company that would manage the commercial rights to the World Cup. The proposal strikes at FIFA's most important revenue stream: the organisation reported approximately $7.6 billion in revenue for the 2019–2022 cycle, with broadcast and sponsorship rights tied to the World Cup accounting for the largest share. The plan has drawn criticism from senior figures within the governing body itself, including chief operating officer Kevin Lamour and head of development Arsène Wenger.

Infantino was first elected FIFA president in 2016 following the corruption scandal that ended Sepp Blatter's 17-year tenure, and was re-elected unopposed in 2023. The current standoff represents the most significant coordinated challenge to his leadership from within the organisation's membership since he took office.

FIFA issued a statement following crisis talks last week, insisting that Infantino retained the backing of its leadership as well as numerous member associations.

Since then, fresh allegations have surfaced regarding Infantino's personal conduct during his tenure as general secretary of UEFA more than a decade ago. Infantino has categorically denied the claims, while FIFA described them as part of "a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its president."