LaLiga president Tebas calls for Infantino to leave FIFA
Javier Tebas has urged FIFA president Gianni Infantino to step down, criticising the governing body’s World Cup decisions, election structure and possible expansion to 64 teams.
LaLiga president Javier Tebas has called for Gianni Infantino to leave his post as FIFA president, intensifying his criticism of the world governing body after the 2026 World Cup.
In an interview reported on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, Tebas said he believed Infantino’s tenure had run its course. He argued, however, that the FIFA president retains the backing of national associations and is unlikely to face a viable challenger under the organisation’s current election system.
The Spanish league chief criticised several decisions connected to the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. These included mandatory hydration breaks, the extended half-time entertainment at the final and FIFA’s handling of the suspension involving United States forward Folarin Balogun.
Tebas also opposed the prospect of expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams. He said domestic competitions sustain football throughout the year and warned that further growth of the international calendar could damage leagues, clubs and employment across the sport.
His comments came after Spain won the World Cup and amid continued scrutiny of FIFA governance. European governing body UEFA had previously criticised the Balogun disciplinary decision, while debate over the future size of the tournament has continued during and after the competition.
Tebas has frequently challenged FIFA over competition formats and football’s calendar. His latest intervention is significant because it moves beyond disagreement over policy and directly calls for a change in the organisation’s leadership.
Infantino has led FIFA since 2016. BBC Sport said it had contacted FIFA for comment on Tebas’s remarks; no response was included in the report available at the time of writing.
