Infantino urged to skip youth event as FIFA pressure mounts

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing growing pressure to stay away from an under-14s youth tournament in the Dominican Republic.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing growing pressure to stay away from an under-14s youth tournament in the Dominican Republic. The request comes amid escalating anger over his handling of World Cup-related commercial plans.

According to reports, Infantino received a letter on Friday from a regional football executive warning that his presence could disrupt the tournament entirely. The concern centres on how his attendance might overshadow what’s meant to be a purely technical, development-focused youth event.

While Infantino received warm greetings from local politicians ahead of the trip, the head of football’s governing body for North America and the Caribbean firmly opposed his attendance at the Caribbean Football Union event.

In the letter, the CONCACAF president reportedly asked Infantino directly to reconsider showing up, warning that his presence could end up undermining the tournament’s youth development goals.

The request adds to a broader wave of criticism currently surrounding Infantino’s leadership. FIFA continues to provide substantial financial support to countries through revenue generated by the World Cup, giving the organisation considerable regional influence.

Despite that, CONCACAF has reportedly joined forces with European and Asian football confederations, co-signing a letter pushing for Infantino’s resignation. The coordinated pressure marks a significant escalation in tensions surrounding his leadership.

While Infantino may still retain some support within CONCACAF, particularly from Mexico, other co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup, including Canada, have openly criticised his leadership. That growing divide has placed him under an increasingly difficult spotlight.

Adding further pressure, a FIFA presidential election is scheduled for next year. Football associations in England, Wales and Scotland have already withdrawn their prior endorsements of Infantino, signalling weakening support even among traditionally aligned nations.

With mounting criticism from multiple continents, an upcoming leadership election, and now formal requests to stay away from grassroots football events, Infantino’s position atop world football appears increasingly precarious heading into the coming year.