England pushes Infantino over World Cup sale and Balogun
The president of the English Football Federation, Debbie Hewitt, has this week sent a letter to the FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, demanding the disclosure of the World Cup sale plan to private investors and a review of the suspension of U.S. forward Folarin Balogun for the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
In the missive, Hewitt copied FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström and requested an independent review of the project. According to Jordi Archs's report, the letter alleges governance failures and a deterioration of the internal culture within the organization. This request increases pressure on Infantino. The letter is addressed to President Gianni Infantino.
Private Investment Plan for the World Cup
The project envisaged creating a commercial entity to manage FIFA tournaments, including the men's and women's World Cups, and selling twenty percent of the stake to private investors. According to available information, the sale would aim to fund structural improvements. The initiative was announced by Infantino in recent months.
The proposal has met strong opposition from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and CONCACAF, who have called for changes in FIFA's leadership. UEFA has launched legal proceedings in U.S. courts to force the disclosure of the plan's documents.
Controversy Around Balogun's Suspension
Folarin Balogun received a red card in the United States' 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 16, which triggered a one‑match suspension that would have prevented him from playing against Belgium in the round of 16. The United States president, Donald Trump, contacted Infantino to request a review of the sanction, and FIFA decided to suspend the measure for a year. Thanks to that decision, Balogun was able to take part in the match against Belgium.
Infantino issued an apology on August 5 for the private investment plan procedures, and the FIFA board promised an assessment. To date, the FIFA organization has not yet disclosed who will carry out the requested review. Hewitt has asked that all documents be made available before the FIFA Council meeting scheduled for October 15.
President Infantino has confirmed his intention to run for re‑election, counting on strong backing in South America, Africa and several Middle Eastern countries, such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. This support base strengthens his position despite the growing pressure.
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) continues to explore legal avenues regarding the Balogun case. The association believes that the lifted suspension allowed the U.S. forward to contest the round‑of‑16 match against Belgium.