Gianni Infantino. Photo: Getty Images
The meeting lasted about seven hours, Meduza reports, citing Sky News. Following the meeting, Infantino and Grafström sent a letter to the national soccer associations apologizing for the mistakes made in preparing the initiative.
“We sincerely apologize for these mistakes and pledge to ensure they do not happen again,” the letter states. FIFA leadership also acknowledged that the leak of information about the project to the media was a mistake.
The crisis surrounding FIFA’s leadership erupted in late July following reports that the organization intended to sell a 20% stake in a new company, which was supposed to be granted the commercial rights to host the World Cup. According to media reports, a consortium led by Joshua Kushner—the brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump—was among the potential investors being considered. The deal was valued at approximately $4.2 billion.
The initiative drew sharp criticism from national federations and continental confederations, particularly UEFA. They stated that decisions of such magnitude cannot be made without consulting the organization’s members. Under pressure from soccer associations, FIFA officially abandoned the project on August 1.
Infantino has led FIFA since 2016. His current term as president expires in 2027, and he has previously stated his intention to run for re-election.
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