Wenger and Grafström Criticise Infantino's Failed World Cup Investment Plan

Senior FIFA officials are mounting pressure on President Gianni Infantino amid the fallout from the failed World Cup private‑investment scheme. The secretary‑general, Mattias Grafström, described the plan as a “sad and reproachable series of events” and called its withdrawal a necessary step, further undermining Infantino’s authority. The remarks come as FIFA’s chief of global development, former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, publicly stated that he had no knowledge of the investment proposal and that the decision to abandon it was “absolutely necessary and beyond question.”

Wenger’s admission marks a significant shift, as he had previously remained silent on the crisis that has rattled world football governance. The senior duo’s statements suggest a growing consensus within FIFA’s leadership that Infantino’s handling of the project has eroded confidence in his leadership. The withdrawal of the private‑investment plan, once touted as a solution to funding the 2026 World Cup, has now become a focal point for calls for reform and accountability within the sport’s governing body.