Kalshi traders give Gianni Infantino a 40% chance of leaving his role as FIFA president this year after the fallout from his failed attempt to sell stakes in future World Cup profits.
The equity scandal
The Associated Press reported that Infantino offered private investors a chance to purchase equity in World Cup tournaments and other FIFA events through a vehicle called the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). The backlash from the soccer community was swift enough that he announced he was abandoning the plan on August 2, 2026.
Infantino released a statement announcing his decision to cancel the plan, stating “Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place.”
The failed proposal could now lead to legal action against Infantino and FIFA. The Associated Press also reported that the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) is "actively considering legal action, arbitrations, and/or regulatory complaints…arising out of and in connection with the FFE plan proposed by FIFA and all related matters," according to a letter sent from a New York legal firm.
The letter named 18 FIFA executives directed to preserve data, documents, and electronic messages as potential evidence — among them Infantino, Zurich-based chief financial officer Thomas Peyer, and Arsène Wenger, the former Arsenal manager who serves as FIFA's head of global soccer development, per the AP.
The AP also received a statement from FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour that said the FFE plan “was the project of just one man,” referring to Infantino. Lamour also said his staff “were deceived” by the lack of transparency over the sell-off plan and suggested the project must not go ahead.
The FIFA president
UEFA is not just pursuing legal action against FIFA over the equity plan. The organization confirmed it is actively working to identify an alternative candidate for the FIFA presidency ahead of the election in March 2027.
The AP reported that UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin said ousting Infantino remains on the table, adding, “The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family.”
The UEFA isn’t the only soccer organization that had harsh words for FIFA and its president. The North and Central American and Caribbean Association Football’s (CONCACAF) governing body said, “A proposal of this magnitude does not reach that stage by accident. It is a symptom of leadership that has stopped putting football first. This recent unilateral and egregious act of poor governance and leadership follows a pattern of missteps and similar behavior. A full review of this leadership must now take place.”
The takeaway:
Kalshi markets now predict
Gianni Infantino out as President of FIFA this year: 40%
Follow Danny Gallagher on Instagram: @writerdannygallagher
Follow Kalshi on X: @Kalshi | Image Source: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
The opinions and perspectives presented in this article belong solely to the author. This is not financial advice and does not constitute an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to trade any specific product. Information is provided for convenience only on an "AS IS" basis. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Trading event contracts and trading leveraged products, including perpetual futures, involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Please carefully consider if it is appropriate for you in light of your personal financial circumstances. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. See kalshi.com/regulatory for more information. Kalshi is subject to U.S. regulatory oversight by the CFTC.
