Infantino Under Fire as La Liga President Demands Resignation Post-World Cup

The curtain has fallen on the FIFA World Cup 2026, but the aftermath is proving contentious for FIFA President Gianni Infantino. La Liga president Javier Tebas has publicly called for Infantino's resignation, accusing FIFA of "destroying the football industry" by prioritizing an expanded international calendar over the domestic leagues that underpin the global game. [20] This criticism comes as football experts and media outlets reflect on the tournament's legacy, which, while celebrated for memorable matches, breakout stars, and record-breaking attendance, has also sparked debates over refereeing, VAR, and the tournament's expanded 48-team format. [7, 13] The event saw record viewership, with the final drawing over 60 million viewers in the U.S. alone, and attendance topping 6.8 million across the three host nations. [8, 11, 12, 14, 28] However, the focus now shifts to the long-term impact and the challenges facing the sport's governance. [7, 13, 20]