La Liga president Javier Tebas called for FIFA president Gianni Infantino to resign following criticism of plans to expand the World Cup [1].

The dispute highlights a growing rift between domestic league leadership and global governing bodies over player welfare and the commercialization of the sport. Tebas said that excessive expansion threatens the financial stability and competitive integrity of soccer.

Tebas described the current state of the organization as "a system rotten at its core" [2]. He said the proposed expansion of the tournament could potentially reach as many as 64 teams [3]. This scale of growth, he said, risks destroying the sport by overextending players and diluting the quality of competition.

The comments come amid the chaos surrounding the 2026 World Cup [4]. Tebas said the current leadership has failed to manage the transition to a larger format effectively. He said the decision-making process at FIFA ignores the needs of the clubs that employ the players year-round.

Beyond the structural expansion, Tebas addressed the physical demands on athletes during high-stakes matches. He said there is a pressing need for standardized hydration breaks to protect player health during intense competition.

Tebas said the combination of an expanded tournament schedule and a lack of adequate recovery measures creates an unsustainable environment for professional athletes. He said the resignation of Infantino is necessary to reset the direction of the sport [5].

“a system rotten at its core”

The conflict between Javier Tebas and Gianni Infantino represents a systemic struggle for power between club-based leagues and FIFA. By challenging the 2026 expansion and calling for a leadership change, La Liga is signaling that domestic leagues may no longer accept FIFA's unilateral control over the international calendar, particularly as player burnout becomes a critical health and financial risk.