Full Breakdown
La Liga Chief Javier Tebas Calls for FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s Resignation
7/22/2026, 12:41:59 PM
The Core Complaint: FIFA’s Decisions Threaten Domestic Football
In interviews with the Italian daily *La Gazzetta dello Sport* following the 2026 World Cup, La Liga president Javier Tebas argued that FIFA’s recent policies are “destroying the football industry.” He highlighted several issues: the proposal to expand the World Cup to 64 teams, mandatory three-minute hydration breaks in every match, an extended 27-minute halftime during the final, and the handling of U.S. striker Folarin Balogun’s suspension.
Background: 2026 World Cup and Prospects for a 2030 Expansion
The 2026 tournament, staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico, featured 48 national teams—the first edition with that format. Tebas has repeatedly warned that such an expansion would exacerbate fixture congestion and dilute the importance of national competitions.
Data & Statistics Highlighted by Tebas
- Tens of thousands of jobs are linked to the football industry, according to Tebas.
- The World Cup lasts approximately 40 days, involving only a minority of professional players.
- The 2026 final featured a 27-minute halftime—far longer than the standard 15-minute break.
- Current tournament format includes 48 teams; the proposed expansion would add 16 more.
Official Responses
- FIFA has not provided a comment on Tebas’s accusations.
- The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) described the reversal of Balogun’s suspension as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.”
- Infantino has indicated he will seek a fourth term at the FIFA congress scheduled for March 18, where a re-election vote is expected.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Increasing the number of national teams makes no sense,” — Javier Tebas, la liga president
- “Fifa arranges things as it pleases, for what it wants, for its own interests, certainly not for football," said Tebas.” — Javier Tebas, la liga president
- “There's no opposition candidate, nobody wants to stand just to lose,” — Javier Tebas, la liga president
- “The suspension of the American player's ban was absolutely serious. They were lucky that Belgium eliminated the USA, because otherwise a case could have arisen that might have cost Infantino his job,” — Javier Tebas, la liga president
What’s Next
The upcoming FIFA congress on March 18 will decide whether Infantino secures a fourth term. Tebas and other critics anticipate that the outcome will shape the future relationship between FIFA’s global tournaments and domestic football structures.
