Gianni Infantino accused of promising the 2030 World Cup final to Morocco.

According to the British newspaper The Times, Gianni Infantino is said to have promised Morocco that it would host the final of the 2030 World Cup in exchange for the country’s support. The tournament is set to be jointly organized by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, while several cities remain in competition to host the final.

This meeting comes at a particularly challenging time for the FIFA president, the only declared candidate for his own succession. He has faced significant criticism since abandoning his plan to open the organization to private investors as part of the World Cup.

The proposal had sparked strong opposition within the football world. Faced with the backlash, FIFA ultimately abandoned this initiative and issued apologies, but failed to quell the criticism directed at Gianni Infantino.

Dwindling Supports

The FIFA president has also lost the backing of several officials in his circle. His main advisor resigned on Friday, stating that he “categorically” opposes the plans advocated by Gianni Infantino.

UEFA, the powerful confederation of European football, has also directly expressed its reservations about the leader. These public criticisms reflect the growing tensions between FIFA’s leadership and several major players in international football.

In an op-ed published on Wednesday by the Daily Mail, former Portuguese international Luís Figo called for the FIFA president’s departure. “Infantino must go,” wrote the former player, who has become one of the most outspoken public figures against the current governance of the body.

The meeting held in Morocco thus takes place just a few months before FIFA’s presidential election. The revelations from the British press regarding the supposed discussions around the final of the 2030 World Cup are likely to further fuel questions about Gianni Infantino’s strategy and methods.