Mexican Federation Backs Infantino Amid FIFA World Cup Stake Sale Fallout
Concacaf and Conmebol voice concerns as FIFA apologizes for abandoned plan, while FIFPRO declares confidence 'fundamentally broken'.
Carla Rooney
The Mexican Football Federation has publicly supported FIFA President Gianni Infantino, diverging from other Concacaf members.
The FMF declared its backing for Infantino's leadership, stating, "The FMF supports President Infantino's leadership in continuing to promote the development of football through institutional strengthening."
The federation further clarified: "The FMF will neither recognise nor approve any process convened outside of that institutional framework, and it joins the call made... by President Infantino to collectively continue developing football for the benefit of the 211 member associations."
This stance emerges as FIFA abandoned its plans to sell stakes in the World Cup following widespread opposition.
FIFA issued a statement confirming executives gave their 'full support' to Infantino and acknowledged 'mistakes' in the dropped plan.
The organization has since apologized in a letter to football associations and committed to conducting a 'review.'
Concacaf issued a statement criticising the process surrounding the World Cup stake sale plan; Conmebol expressed concern about unilateral actions taken without dialogue.
The Argentine Football Association acknowledged the World Cup sell-off proposal generated uncertainties and that errors were made.
Uefa has stated that FIFA's response so far does not meet the threshold for their boycott of FIFA competitions to be lifted.
Boycotts will reportedly continue, as will letters of no confidence from various individual federations.
Mexico co-hosts the 2026 World Cup.
FIFPRO claims the withdrawal of the proposal prevented an irreversible decision, but it did not restore the confidence that made such a proposal possible in the first place.
That confidence has now been fundamentally broken, according to FIFPRO, and cannot be rebuilt through carefully drafted statements, internal reviews, or promises to improve processes.
FIFPRO also claims confidence cannot be restored simply by announcing governance and structural reforms that should always have existed, though these reforms are now indispensable.
Midfielder Leandro Paredes reportedly faces serious individual charges, including three counts of assault, potentially leading to a nine-match suspension.
Coach Roberto Ayala is also under scrutiny for post-match events.
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