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Mauricio Pochettino has signed a contract extension to remain head coach of the United States men's national team until 2030.

The former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea manager, who took charge in September 2024, guided the United States to the last 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The tournament co-hosts were eventually knocked out by Belgium.

As part of the new agreement, Pochettino's responsibilities will extend beyond the senior national team. Alongside his coaching staff, he will play a wider role in supporting US Soccer by contributing to youth development, coaching education, collaboration with professional leagues, and strengthening the pathway from youth teams to the senior national side.

Speaking about the extension, Pochettino said the past two years had shown the enormous potential to further develop the men's national team programme. He added that he and his staff were eager to use their experience to help improve player and coach development across the federation while creating stronger pathways for future talent.

Pochettino also said his ambition is to make a lasting contribution to soccer in the United States, hoping his influence will be felt not only through results on the pitch but also through the long-term growth of the sport throughout the country.

Opposition to FIFA president Gianni Infantino is intensifying, with senior UEFA sources claiming that some member associations are considering "non-cooperation" with FIFA unless he steps down.

According to those sources, several officials involved in the growing backlash believe there is "no going back" while Infantino remains in office. The dispute stems from his abandoned proposal to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investors, a plan that has sparked widespread criticism.

Although the exact form of any coordinated action has not been confirmed, one senior football official suggested that a boycott of FIFA meetings is a likely option.

The latest developments follow UEFA's threat to pursue legal action over the investment proposal. Wales has already withdrawn its support for Infantino's expected bid for a fourth term as FIFA president, with England's Football Association reportedly preparing to do the same.

Infantino is expected to seek re-election in March and would require at least 106 votes from FIFA's 211 member associations to secure another term.

Huhuonline.com understand that the Scottish Football Association remains aligned with UEFA's position, reflecting the confederation's continued lack of confidence in Infantino's leadership.

Criticism of the FIFA president has also come from football governing bodies in Europe, North and Central America, and the Caribbean, with both UEFA and Concacaf issuing statements opposing the investment proposals.

As pressure mounts, Serbia, Sweden and Finland have also reportedly withdrawn their support for Infantino. Meanwhile, several nations—including Morocco, Qatar, Lebanon, Kuwait and Sri Lanka—have publicly backed his continued leadership of FIFA.

FIFA's 211 member associations are divided among six continental confederations: UEFA (55), CAF (54), AFC (46), Concacaf (35), OFC (11) and CONMEBOL (10).

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has expressed solidarity with UEFA and Concacaf over the issue, while CAF, CONMEBOL and OFC have not publicly criticised Infantino's proposals.

Under FIFA's statutes, the FIFA Council could seek to force Infantino's resignation by calling an emergency meeting. Such a meeting would require the support of at least 19 of the Council's 37 members and, if requested, must be held within two weeks.

The FIFA Council comprises representatives from UEFA (9), AFC (7), Concacaf (5), CAF (6), CONMEBOL (5), OFC (3), as well as FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Secretary General Mattias Grafström.

On Tuesday morning, Gianni Infantino appeared untouchable as FIFA president, occupying the most powerful position in world football.

Just days later, however, his authority has come under unprecedented pressure after it emerged that he had attempted to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investment firms—reportedly without the knowledge or approval of other senior officials.

UEFA, Infantino's most vocal critic, responded forcefully by threatening to boycott all FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. Sensing a rare opportunity to challenge his leadership, European football's governing body now appears determined to push for his removal. It may represent the strongest chance it has ever had to weaken his grip on power.


Yet UEFA is far from alone in its opposition.

Concacaf, a confederation that had worked closely with Infantino in planning the 2026 World Cup, called for a full review of FIFA's leadership following the proposed investment deal. Even more damaging was the reaction from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), where several member associations that had traditionally supported Infantino also distanced themselves from him.

His difficulties deepened further when two of his closest allies—senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro and chief operating officer Kevin Lamour—left their positions, raising fresh questions about confidence in his leadership.

Although Infantino reversed course in the early hours of Saturday by abandoning the proposal, the move failed to repair the damage. UEFA responded with another strongly worded statement, declaring that it had lost confidence in his leadership.

The battle lines have now been drawn. The question is no longer just about the failed investment proposal, but whether Infantino can retain the support of enough FIFA members to remain in office—or whether this controversy will become the beginning of the end of his presidency.

FIFA has abandoned its controversial proposal to sell stakes in its major competitions after widespread opposition from its member associations.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that the plan would no longer go ahead, saying it had become clear the proposal had "created divisions" and was "no longer in the interest" of its original objective.

The FIFA president had proposed selling a 20% stake in a newly created commercial entity overseeing the World Cup, with the goal of raising $4.2 billion (€3.6 billion). The leading candidate to acquire the stake was Thrive Eternal, the investment fund founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump.

The decision to scrap the proposal follows strong resistance from member associations, bringing an end to one of the most controversial governance initiatives in FIFA's recent history.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is seeking support from the Trump administration as he faces increasing pressure over his leadership and a controversial proposal to restructure FIFA’s commercial operations, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Infantino is expected to hold a private discussion with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with the conversation publicly framed around soccer’s role as a tool of American soft power. However, huhuoonline.com gathered that the wider objective is to strengthen political backing as Infantino works to maintain his position as head of world football.

“He wanted to discuss how soccer can serve as a form of soft power for America,” one source said. “But the reality is that this is about protecting his position.”

The FIFA president has reportedly become increasingly isolated following criticism of a plan to establish a new commercial entity that would oversee major revenue streams, including broadcasting, sponsorship, licensing, and ticketing rights.

The proposed venture, reportedly known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), was expected to attract private investment, including a potential deal with Thrive Eternal, the investment firm founded by Josh Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump.The proposal reportedly involved the sale of a 20% stake valued at more than $4 billion.

The plan triggered widespread opposition among football officials, many of whom claimed they were not properly consulted before details became public. Some FIFA executives expressed frustration over the decision-making process, with one senior official reportedly saying he felt “deceived” by the handling of the proposal.

The backlash has intensified calls for leadership changes within FIFA, with some officials reportedly exploring efforts to challenge Infantino’s position.

Infantino, who has built a close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of the 2026 World Cup, has reportedly attempted several times to reconnect with Trump following the collapse of the commercial proposal. According to sources, those efforts have so far not received a response.

The controversy has also widened divisions between FIFA and European football authorities. UEFA, European football’s governing body, has reportedly discussed possible measures, including legal action and potential boycotts of FIFA competitions, creating uncertainty over future tournaments.

Any significant withdrawal of European support could have major consequences for global football, potentially affecting participation by some of the world’s biggest national teams and players.

The English Football Association (FA) is now preparing to withdraw its support for Infantino’s bid to remain FIFA president, following the collapse of the proposed commercial restructuring plan.

The move follows similar opposition from other football bodies, including the Football Association of Wales, which has already indicated it will not back Infantino for another term. UEFA and Concacaf have also raised concerns about the lack of consultation surrounding the proposal.

UEFA has warned FIFA that it is considering legal action, arbitration, and regulatory complaints over the planned restructuring. In a letter to Infantino, UEFA reportedly demanded that FIFA preserve all documents and electronic records connected to the project, emphasizing that such material must be protected regardless of standard document retention policies.

FIFA has not yet issued a public response to the latest developments.

Gianni Infantino is facing mounting pressure over his leadership of FIFA following strong criticism from two of football's most influential confederations, UEFA and Concacaf.

According to Huhuonline.com, growing dissatisfaction with FIFA's leadership has intensified after the world football governing body reportedly decided not to proceed with a proposal to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors.

On Saturday, both UEFA and Concacaf issued statements criticizing FIFA's leadership following the decision to withdraw the investment proposal.

UEFA welcomed the withdrawal of the plan, describing it as a "victory for the whole game." The European governing body accused the current FIFA leadership of failing to uphold the promises of transparency and accountability that Infantino made during his successful campaign for the FIFA presidency in 2016.

"The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA's confidence but also that of many other members of the football family," UEFA said in a strongly worded statement. The organization further criticized what it described as a lack of transparency in the handling of the proposed investment deal.

Concacaf, which governs football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, echoed UEFA's concerns. While it did not mention Infantino by name, the confederation said the abandoned proposal reflected "a symptom of leadership that has stopped putting football first."

The regional body added that the episode represented "a unilateral and egregious act of poor governance and leadership" and called for a comprehensive review of FIFA's leadership.

In a separate statement, Concacaf stressed that "accountability cannot be optional," arguing that football stakeholders deserve answers about how such a proposal was allowed to advance and who should be held responsible.

The backlash has increased scrutiny of Infantino's leadership as he prepares for the next FIFA presidential election. Although there have been growing calls from some quarters for greater accountability within FIFA, there has been no official announcement that Infantino intends to resign.

FIFA has yet to issue a detailed response to the criticisms from UEFA and Concacaf.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing increasing pressure after the organization's chief operating officer publicly criticized his proposal to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investors.

In a statement released made available to huhuonline.com on Friday, Kevin Lamour described the proposal as "the project of one person" and urged football leaders to "ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions." He also claimed FIFA's administration had been "deceived" about the initiative.

Although Lamour did not mention Infantino by name, his remarks came amid growing opposition to the plans. On the same day, a third football confederation voiced its concerns, a senior adviser to Infantino resigned, and Andy Burnham said the Swiss official was "the wrong man" to lead FIFA.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump said he had not discussed the proposal with Infantino, despite reports that the two have developed a close relationship since Trump's second term began in 2025.

Lamour said FIFA's employees are committed to serving football and argued that the organization's leadership should unite and inspire rather than divide.

"Our mission—the mission of the hundreds of passionate, dedicated, and exemplary FIFA employees—is to serve football," he said. "A president must bring people together, unite them, and inspire them. Today, we are experiencing the opposite."

Acknowledging his responsibility to both FIFA and its values, Lamour said he was prepared to accept any consequences for speaking out.

"If that means I lose my job, then so be it," he said. "I will understand and respect that decision. At least I'll sleep well tonight."

More Articles ...

  1. Senior FIFA Adviser Resigns as AFC, UEFA & CONCACAF Oppose Infantino's Investment Plan
  2. fifa:"nobody is selling football", as plan continues
  3. UEFA Threatens World Cup Boycott Over FIFA Investment Plans
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