Infantino at U20 World Cup, dodges future questions

FIFA President Gianni Infantino appeared at the opening of the Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland on Saturday, September 5, 2026, amidst ongoing pressure and controversy surrounding his leadership. Infantino declined to answer questions from reporters about his future with the organization, stating, "There will be a lot to say, but there will be a right place and a right time to say this. It's not today, it's not here." The FIFA chief has faced significant backlash since his plan to sell stakes in the organization's commercial rights, including those for the World Cup, was revealed in July. The proposal, known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan, envisioned transferring commercial rights into a new subsidiary, with outside investors potentially paying approximately $4.2 billion for a stake in a business valued at around $20 billion. Infantino abandoned the plan on July 31 following strong opposition from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and CONCACAF, the confederation for North, Central America, and the Caribbean. UEFA had threatened to boycott FIFA competitions but later withdrew the threat after receiving assurances the plan would not be revived.