La Liga president Javier Tebas has called on FIFA president Gianni Infantino to step down, accusing him of damaging world football through the continued expansion of international competitions and prioritising commercial interests over the long-term health of the sport. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tebas said Infantino's leadership had reached its limit and argued that the current governance structure within FIFA prevents meaningful opposition from emerging. His remarks come amid growing debate over fixture congestion and FIFA's plans for future tournaments.

Tebas criticised FIFA's proposal to expand the 2030 FIFA World Cup from 48 to 64 teams, saying the move would further strain the football calendar without benefiting the wider game. He argued that domestic leagues form the foundation of the football ecosystem by supporting clubs, players and thousands of jobs, and warned that increasing the size of international tournaments would undermine national competitions. According to Tebas, football should not revolve solely around the World Cup, regardless of its global significance.

The La Liga chief also questioned FIFA's internal governance, claiming many football administrators privately disagree with Infantino but remain unwilling to challenge him publicly. Tebas described the current system as deeply flawed and suggested that silence from football's leadership amounted to complicity. While stating that Infantino should resign, he acknowledged that the FIFA president continues to enjoy the backing of national football federations, making any leadership challenge highly unlikely ahead of the next presidential election.

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Tebas further criticised several operational decisions taken during the recently concluded FIFA World Cup, including the introduction of hydration breaks and the extended 27-minute halftime during the final between Spain and Argentina. He argued that the cooling breaks were unnecessary in several venues because stadiums had climate-controlled conditions, claiming they disrupted the rhythm of matches while creating additional opportunities for advertising and tactical adjustments. FIFA introduced the measures to help players cope with high temperatures across host venues in North America.

The criticism comes as South American football's governing body, CONMEBOL, has formally proposed expanding the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams. The tournament is already expected to be the largest in history, with matches scheduled across six host nations spanning three continents. Meanwhile, Infantino confirmed earlier this year that he will seek a fourth term as FIFA president, with elections for the 2027–2031 cycle scheduled to take place in Morocco in March 2027.

Supporters' organisation Football Supporters Europe (FSE) also issued a strong statement calling for structural reforms within FIFA. The group criticised high ticket prices, rising travel costs, a lack of transparency, and what it described as excessive commercialisation during the World Cup. FSE argued that supporters' interests had been overlooked in favour of financial and political priorities, urging FIFA to return greater decision-making authority to its Council and Congress while ensuring clubs, leagues, players and fans play a more active role in shaping the future of global football.

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