Norway’s soccer federation calls for Infantino’s resignation amid World Cup plan fallout

By Liam Tremblay — 7 August 2026 — 3 min read

Norway’s Federation Calls for Leadership Change

The Norwegian Football Federation has publicly called for FIFA president Gianni Infantino to resign immediately. This demand follows a meeting where the federation decided to ask for his departure. Lise Klaveness, the president of the Norwegian federation, stated that when trust is lost, leadership must be re-evaluated. She expressed the belief that Infantino’s time as FIFA president should conclude and requested his resignation.

This announcement adds to the increasing pressure on Infantino, stemming from his controversial proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup through a commercial entity named the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). The plan has drawn significant criticism, particularly from European football bodies.

European Opposition and Internal Challenges

UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, reiterated its threat to boycott the World Cup and other FIFA competitions. This stance remains despite FIFA’s apology and abandonment of the FFE plan. UEFA has consistently stated its lack of confidence in Infantino’s leadership. The organization emphasized that its position on Infantino’s presidency remains unchanged.

Infantino recently held a summit meeting with senior staff in Rabat, Morocco, where FIFA stated he received full support from those present. However, UEFA’s strong response and Norway’s direct call for his resignation indicate that significant anger persists, especially within Europe. The English Football Association has also withdrawn its support for Infantino’s re-election, which is scheduled for next March. Other federations, including Serbia, Sweden, and Wales, have also withdrawn their support.

The Norwegian federation also indicated it would raise concerns with FIFA regarding the FFE, a peace prize awarded to Donald Trump, and the suspension of Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban during the World Cup. Klaveness stressed that FIFA requires new leadership to rebuild trust, enhance good governance, and ensure the effective implementation of the organization’s reforms.

Upcoming Election and Potential Challengers

Infantino is preparing for a re-election bid next year, with a vote among the 211 national member federations in March. He needs a simple majority to retain his position. While he reportedly left New York with approximately 200 letters of support from these federations, it is uncertain how many will maintain their backing given the recent controversies.

Continental soccer bodies in Europe, Asia, and North and South America have expressed varying degrees of opposition to Infantino’s plans. However, confederations are not mandated to vote collectively, and there are no guarantees of securing the 106 votes needed for a majority in a contested election. Infantino has traditionally found support in Africa, which accounts for 54 voting members, and has received backing from individual federations, including 2022 World Cup host Qatar.

The deadline for candidates to enter the next presidential contest is November 18, exactly four months before the vote. While some have suggested Paris Saint-Germain’s Qatari president, Nasser al-Khelaïfi, as a potential candidate due to his role as chairman of the association of European Football Clubs, he has stated he has no interest in the FIFA role. Canadian FIFA vice president Victor Montagliani is another name mentioned in discussions.

The Women’s Under-20 World Cup, hosted by Poland from September 5, could be the first potential target for UEFA’s threatened boycott. Additionally, a potential boycott introduces uncertainty regarding the staging of the 2035 Women’s World Cup, for which the four British federations comprise FIFA’s only bidder, with a decision due on November 23.

Source: theglobeandmail.com