LaLiga President Slams FIFA, Calls for Gianni Infantino to Resign

JAKARTA - LaLiga President Javier Tebas warned that expanding the World Cup to 64 teams would represent the continued destruction of the football industry under FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Tebas regularly criticises Infantino and launched another attack on him as the situation approached the 2026 World Cup.

After Spain became the 2026 World Cup champion, Tebas became increasingly harsh in urging Infantino to resign from his post. Moreover, Infantino openly expressed his desire to add teams to the 2030 World Cup.

The problem is, in the 2030 edition, Spain will host Portugal and Morocco together, which is planned to be followed by 64 teams.

"Increasing the number of national teams makes no sense. The football industry is not just the World Cup, which is the most important event."

"However, not everything can revolve around the World Cup. National competitions that support this sport. They are destroying the football industry, an industry that generates tens of thousands of jobs, for an event that lasts for 40 days and is only attended by a small percentage of players."

"We need fewer national teams and more protection for national football, at all levels. They don't realize it. They make decisions irresponsibly," Tebas told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico is the first to feature 48 teams, with previous tournaments only involving 32 national teams since the expansion from 24 teams for the 1998 edition.

There has also been criticism of FIFA and Infantino over the past six weeks over several issues related to the 2026 World Cup.

There were complaints about forced drinking breaks, visa problems for people arriving in the United States for the tournament, and the uproar surrounding the United States player, Folarin Balogun, whose suspension was overturned due to the intervention of US President Donald Trump.

Despite all that, Infantino is expected to be re-elected for his fourth term at the FIFA Congress in March 2027. However, the possibility is clearly not liked by Tebas.

"In my opinion, yes, (he should resign). I think (he) has finished his term. However, he has the support of the system, from the federation, there is not much more to add, right?"

"There is no opposition candidate, no one wants to run to lose. This is the system and this system is sick from the root."

"Lately in the United States, I've heard a lot of people against Infantino, who don't agree with what he's doing. They say it, but then they don't do anything."

"I don't know if silence or complicity is worse. The point is, those who are silent are very aware of the damage football has suffered."

"The cancellation of the suspension of the United States player (Balogun) is something very serious. They are lucky that Belgium eliminated the United States (in the last 16). Otherwise, the case could make Infantino lose his job."

"Because Belgium won, they managed to bury this problem. However, these things are just the tip of the iceberg. FIFA arranges everything according to its wishes, for its own interests, certainly not for football."

"So, if they need a 27-minute break, they do it. The break for drinking is a lie. We have such a break in LaLiga, but only when the weather is very hot."

"Here, the stadiums in Dallas, Los Angeles, and Atlanta have air conditioning. I have to wear a sweater in the stands. That's a lie, a break for advertising," said Tebas.