Gianni Infantino gets warm Caribbean welcome despite Concacaf plea

Amid mounting calls for his resignation over the collapsed FIFA Forward Enterprise project, FIFA president Gianni Infantino travelled to the Caribbean on Saturday, where he reported receiving a “very, very warm welcome” at a youth tournament, while Concacaf president Victor Montagliani had publicly asked him not to attend.

Pressure over Forward Enterprise

The soccer community has intensified calls for Infantino to step down after the failed FIFA Forward Enterprise venture, which collapsed shortly after being announced. Critics argue the proposal jeopardised FIFA’s credibility, adding to the governance crisis surrounding the organisation.

On Saturday, Infantino travelled to the Dominican Republic to attend the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Under-14 Challenge Series, a FIFA-sponsored youth tournament backed by the FIFA Forward development programme. Despite Concacaf president Victor Montagliani’s written request for him to stay away, the president arrived and met with member associations.

In a statement released that day, Infantino said he received “a very, very warm welcome” and that he discussed projects and ideas with the CFU nations. He added that dialogue is essential, noting that “a lot has been happening in the last few weeks” and expressing overall happiness with the support he received.

Visit defies Concacaf request

Infantino’s popularity has fallen since his plan to sell private investment stakes in the World Cup was made public, a proposal linked to the scrapped FIFA Forward Enterprise project. The venture was abandoned only days after its initial reporting, further fueling criticism of his leadership.

UEFA readies criminal complaint against FIFA chief Infantino

Victor Montagliani wrote to Infantino on Friday, urging him to reconsider his attendance, warning that his presence would detract from the technical nature of the competition. “I believe that considering the governance crisis… the media will focus on this situation, which will unfortunately significantly take away from the technical nature of the CFU youth competition,” Montagliani wrote.

Infantino ignored the request and made a public appearance anyway. Montagliani is expected to be at the tournament this weekend, though it remains unclear whether the two officials will interact.

Concacaf has joined UEFA and AFC in a joint statement earlier this month calling for Infantino to step down, and six officials signed an open letter to the football world demanding his resignation. UEFA has even threatened to boycott future World Cups, reflecting the depth of the backlash.

UEFA declares no trust in Infantino, vows credible replacement

On Sunday, a coalition of Nordic federations – Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland and the Faroe Islands – issued a statement saying they have lost confidence in Infantino and demand a comprehensive independent review of FIFA’s governance. Montagliani, a Canadian‑born FIFA vice‑president, is among those mentioned as a possible challenger in the next election.