FA Unleashes Fury on Infantino
The English Football Association has launched a blistering attack on Gianni Infantino after the FIFA president posted a tone-deaf Instagram message thanking World Cup host cities — while millions of dollars in promised payments remain unpaid.
In a furious statement released earlier today, the FA accused Infantino of “complete disregard” for the cities and taxpayers who subsidised the tournament, calling his response “an insult to everyone who made the World Cup possible.”
The statement reads: “Once again, Gianni Infantino has shown complete disregard for those who made the World Cup possible. While host cities are left chasing millions of dollars they were promised, the FIFA president posts Instagram videos of himself smiling and signing autographs. This is not leadership — it is a disgrace.”
The FA’s fury comes after weeks of mounting tension between England and FIFA, with the Three Lions having already formally withdrawn their support for Infantino’s re-election bid.
Infantino’s Tone-Deaf Instagram Post
The controversy erupted after Infantino took to Instagram on Monday to offer his “heartfelt thank you” to the 2026 World Cup’s host cities.
The caption accompanied a video of the divisive Swiss executive flashing a thumbs up, smiling and signing autographs at every stadium.
“Your world-class venues and extraordinary hospitality made the FIFA World Cup 2026 an historic celebration of football,” Infantino wrote. “Together, we welcomed the world and united billions of people through the joy of the beautiful game!”
A message of thanks at a time of angst among the majority of host cities is hardly the first example of Infantino delivering an unpopular message. But for the FA, it was the final straw.
The Funding Crisis: Millions Owed to Host Cities
The FA’s fury is rooted in a scandal that has been brewing for weeks.
It was claimed earlier this month that the 11 U.S. host cities which staged World Cup matches across June and July were privately promised $1 million each to contribute towards legacy projects. FIFA management repeatedly assured the cities they would receive the funds. Almost one month on from the tournament’s conclusion, these payments are supposedly yet to arrive.
Without any contractual obligation—it’s said that FIFA’s senior management communicated these pledges verbally—there is no way for the host cities to force Infantino’s hand.
Given world soccer’s governing body stands to earn $15 billion from the tournament, a sense of confusion has swept over the host cities still waiting for a fraction of that income.
The U.S. taxpayer contributed hugely to the direct and indirect costs of the 2026 tournament, with expenses easily into the billions, as costs spread across security, transportation, logistics and operations. FIFA took the vast majority of the revenue from ticketing, media rights, sponsorship, concessions and parking.
England’s Growing Rebellion
The FA’s furious statement is the latest escalation in England’s war against Infantino.
Just days ago, the English FA formally withdrew its support for Infantino’s re-election in reaction to his aborted plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors. England joined Wales, Serbia, and Sweden in withdrawing support.
The FA has also backed UEFA’s threat to boycott all FIFA competitions — including the World Cup — if Infantino’s leadership continues.
UEFA has already said it has lost confidence in Infantino, calling the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal a “shabby, back room, opaque deal” .
All 55 UEFA member federations have unanimously boycotted FIFA tournaments to protest Infantino’s project. The English FA issued a strong statement affirming the solidarity of the European bloc: “We stand shoulder to shoulder with our European colleagues and fully support our collective position. We oppose FIFA’s plan.”
The Bigger Picture
The funding controversy is just the latest issue on the desk of the beleaguered FIFA president.
Infantino is still facing backlash for his aborted plan to privatise the World Cup and sell off stakes to the extended family of U.S. President Donald Trump. While UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian federations have taken a firm stance against Infantino ahead of next year’s presidential elections, cracks have started to emerge in the concrete base of support he had been able to count upon.
The English FA’s furious statement makes it clear: England is not backing down.
What Happens Next?
The funding controversy is unlikely to go away. Host cities are now asking FIFA staff for updates on the payments. Some host committees are winding up operations following the tournament, making it difficult to work out the vehicle which would now be best placed to benefit from the payments. Others are seeking to draw up financial reports to their jurisdictions but do not have certainty over whether to include the payments.
One host city executive told The Athletic: “We find it difficult to understand how FIFA, an organisation which celebrated revenues in excess of $15 billion, would be stalling on these relatively minor payments to cities who subsidised their tournament” .
For England, the controversy is further justification for its rebellion against Infantino. The FA has already withdrawn its support. It has revealed Project Lionheart. It has mobilised the coalition.
And with Infantino’s latest tone-deaf response, the war for football’s soul has only just begun.
The English FA has released a furious statement slamming Gianni Infantino over his tone-deaf Instagram post — while millions of dollars in promised payments to World Cup host cities remain unpaid.
The FA says this proves Infantino has “lost all credibility.”
With England leading the charge against the FIFA president, the war for football’s soul has entered a dangerous new phase.
And the beautiful game has never been uglier.
