LaLiga President Javier Tebas has called on FIFA President Gianni Infantino to step down after Spain claimed the 2026 World Cup trophy with a 1-0 win over Argentina in New York on Sunday.
Tebas blasted FIFA's handling of the tournament, singling out the controversial hydration breaks and the musical performance at the final as examples of mismanagement. He also pointed to the Folarin Balogun incident as evidence that Infantino has lost control of the federation.
"FIFA organizes events according to their own interests, rather than for the benefit of football," Tebas told reporters, according to Tribal Football. "If they require a 27-minute break, they simply create one."
The LaLiga chief dismissed the hydration stoppages as unnecessary theatre. He noted that while LaLiga uses them, they only activate during extreme heat conditions, and the U.S. stadiums in Dallas, Los Angeles, and Atlanta were all air-conditioned.
"It was ridiculous, all for a commercial interruption," he said. "I even had to wear a sweater in the stands."
Tebas argued that the Balogun drama exposed deeper rot at FIFA headquarters. President Donald Trump had publicly pressured Infantino to reverse the striker's red card suspension, and the ban was ultimately lifted after review.
"They were fortunate that Belgium eliminated the USA, as otherwise a scandal could have arisen that might have cost Infantino his position," Tebas explained. "With Belgium's victory, they managed to suppress the issue."
However, he stressed this was just scratching the surface. "This is merely the tip of the iceberg.
Infantino should resign; his time has come," he said.
Yet Tebas acknowledged the FIFA boss enjoys solid backing from national federations and the establishment. No rival candidate has emerged willing to challenge him for a seat they'd likely lose.
"The system is fundamentally flawed," he added. "In the USA, I have heard many voices criticizing Infantino and opposing his actions."
FIFA faced serious criticism throughout the tournament over its restructuring of the traditional format. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin boycotted the New York final in protest of the changes.
