Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has publicly criticized FIFA President Gianni Infantino, expressing a clear lack of trust in his leadership.
Speaking at a press conference in Toronto on Wednesday, Carney condemned Infantino’s attempt to quietly sell stakes in future World Cups to private investors, including the Kushner family. This move, Carney said, was a fatal error.
“Throughout my career, I have led several organizations,” Carney explained, just weeks after Canada co-hosted the World Cup alongside the United States and Mexico. “The idea that proper governance involves withholding critical information from your closest advisors, your chief operating officer, and your board colleagues—not just considering but proposing such a deal—is a fatal mistake. It must result in a loss of trust in that individual.”
He added that while FIFA has its own procedures for decision-making, he personally no longer trusts Infantino following this episode, given both the nature of the incident and its consequences.
Carney’s remarks come amid ongoing backlash over Infantino’s recently abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise plan. This proposal, revealed last week, aimed to create a commercial subsidiary to manage events like the World Cup and Club World Cup, involving private investment.
The plan immediately sparked widespread criticism. Football governing bodies and global leaders voiced their disapproval, with UEFA—the powerful European football authority—pledging to boycott future events under the scheme. Several member countries also threatened to withdraw support from Infantino, who is seeking a fourth and final presidential term in 2027.
Earlier, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham also weighed in, stating that Infantino is not the right person to lead football on the global stage.
“The proposed plan is offensive to many people, including football officials worldwide, and we cannot simply move on and forget about it,” Burnham said.
