“His Time Is Over” — Tebas Calls for Infantino to Step Down

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published July 22, 2026

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LaLiga president Javier Tebas has called for Gianni Infantino to resign as FIFA president, accusing the world football governing body of damaging the sport by continually expanding international competitions at the expense of domestic leagues and clubs.

Asked whether Infantino should leave his position, Tebas said he believed the FIFA president’s “time is over.” He argued that Infantino remains in power largely because of the support he receives from national football associations and the absence of a credible challenger willing to contest an election they are widely expected to lose.

The LaLiga chief said the dispute goes far beyond a single tournament. He criticized FIFA’s broader strategy of increasing the number and size of international competitions while clubs face an increasingly congested calendar and players are placed under greater physical pressure.

Tebas argued that domestic leagues form the economic foundation of professional football because they operate throughout the season, sustain clubs and jobs, and generate broadcasting and sponsorship revenues.

FIFA, however, is primarily focused on major international tournaments such as the World Cup, he said, even though only a portion of the world’s professional players take part in those competitions.

His comments come amid growing debate over a proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams, following the first 48-team edition held in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

Infantino has said the 64-team proposal could be considered by FIFA’s relevant committees. Tebas strongly rejected the idea, arguing that another expansion would place further pressure on national competitions and players without providing a convincing sporting justification.

Under a format similar to the one used for the 48-team tournament, a 64-team World Cup could feature as many as 128 matches — 24 more than the expanded 2026 competition — and potentially add another week to an event that already lasts more than five weeks.

Tebas is not alone in opposing the proposal. UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin has also criticized the idea, warning that it could weaken continental qualifying competitions and further disrupt the football calendar.

Critics have raised additional concerns about player fatigue, organizational costs, competitive imbalance and the declining value of regional qualifiers.

Supporters of expansion argue that it would give smaller football nations a greater opportunity to appear on the world stage and help grow the sport globally.

Opponents, however, believe FIFA is primarily seeking to expand its commercial influence and revenues, even if that comes at the expense of the domestic leagues that provide football’s weekly foundation.

Infantino is expected to seek another term as FIFA president for the 2027–2031 cycle. Tebas said the absence of a serious opponent reflects deeper problems within FIFA’s electoral system, despite growing criticism of the president’s policies.