FIFA’s annual Congress descended into controversy on Thursday after several European football officials, including UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, walked out in protest over FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s delayed appearance.
Infantino arrived more than two hours late to the session in Luque, outside Paraguay’s capital, Asunción, after holding meetings in Qatar and Saudi Arabia — both current and future World Cup hosts — as well as a recent visit with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The delay forced a last-minute recess and drew the ire of European delegates, who accused the FIFA boss of prioritizing political engagements over the governance of football.
UEFA issued a sharply critical statement, calling the disruption “deeply regrettable.”
“To have the timetable changed at the last minute for what appears to be simply to accommodate private political interests, does the game no service,” UEFA said. “We are all in post to serve football; from the streets to the podium.”
UEFA’s members on the FIFA Council chose to exit the meeting as originally scheduled, signaling their displeasure.
Norwegian Football Federation President Lise Klaveness joined in the criticism, calling the incident both “disappointing and concerning,” echoing growing frustration over Infantino’s leadership style.
Addressing delegates after his arrival, Infantino apologized and attributed the delay to travel difficulties. He defended his meetings in the Gulf as crucial to FIFA’s mission.
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“As FIFA president, my responsibility is to make decisions in the best interests of the organization,” Infantino said. “I felt I had to be there to represent football and all of you.”
The FIFA chief has recently increased diplomatic activity in the Middle East and the U.S., key players in football’s upcoming global calendar — with the U.S. hosting the 2025 Club World Cup and co-hosting the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico.
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström declined to elaborate on the fallout, saying only: “We had a great Congress.”
Despite the tension, the Congress proceeded without major decisions. CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez used the platform to promote his vision for an expanded 64-team 2030 World Cup — a controversial plan opposed by other regional bodies.
“A World Cup is the most popular celebration on planet Earth, and no one should be left out,” Domínguez said, though he stopped short of mentioning specific countries or changes.
The proposal would see more matches played in South American nations like Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, supplementing the existing host trio of Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
As the dust settles from the walkout, Infantino faces renewed scrutiny over the growing disconnect between FIFA’s top leadership and its European counterparts — a rift that appears far from healed.