TORONTO — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed a lack of confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Wednesday, amid escalating scrutiny of the soccer leader following his controversial decision to abandon a plan for selling stakes in the World Cup, which had incited international backlash.
Carney labeled Infantino’s actions a “fatal” governance misstep due to his failure to consult with senior advisers, including FIFA’s chief operating officer and board members.
“This should be a critical issue,” Carney stated. “I certainly do not have confidence in Mr. Infantino.”
As Canada co-hosts the 2026 World Cup alongside the United States and Mexico, Carney had previously shared the stage with Infantino at several tournament functions.
Carney’s remarks followed Infantino’s withdrawal from the proposal, which had met fierce resistance from UEFA, various national soccer federations, and senior FIFA staff.
Infantino’s idea involved establishing a $20 billion entity to manage the World Cup with private investors, including the Kushner family, but it faced significant backlash.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently described Infantino as “the wrong man to lead” global soccer.
FIFA did not respond promptly to requests for comments regarding these developments.
All 55 UEFA member associations agreed to boycott the World Cup and other FIFA competitions should the plan proceed, with opposition also coming from Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation.
Despite Infantino’s retraction, UEFA has stated its intention to collaborate with other confederations to prevent similar proposals from arising in the future.
While Infantino still enjoys support from certain member associations, including Qatar, the criticism directed at FIFA’s governance continues to grow, especially in light of Carney’s statements.
Earlier on Wednesday, Infantino convened an emergency FIFA meeting in Rabat, Morocco, to address the intensifying pressure on his presidency and was later seen attending a match during the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Moreover, the president of Jordan‘s FA accused Infantino of essentially “blackmailing” the country due to FIFA’s failure to fulfill its financial obligations following Jordan’s advancement to the final of the FIFA Arab Cup last December.
FIFA’s upcoming presidential election is set for March in Rabat, with candidates required to declare by November 18.
Information from The Associated Press was included in this report.