FIFA ‘destroying football’ for the World Cup, says Spanish football chief

The president of Spain's top football league has launched a public critique of FIFA's strategic direction, particularly its consideration of expanding the World Cup format. In remarks published by an Italian sports publication, Tebas expressed concern that the global governing body is prioritizing a single tournament at the expense of the broader football ecosystem that sustains employment across the industry.

Tebas emphasized that domestic leagues form the foundation of professional football worldwide, yet FIFA's decision-making appears to overlook this reality. He pointed to ongoing tensions over the international match calendar, which already strains club competitions, and argued that adding more teams to the World Cup would exacerbate these conflicts. According to Tebas, FIFA leadership has not adequately considered the consequences of its choices on the sport's economic infrastructure.

The La Liga chief also questioned the legitimacy of FIFA's governance structure, characterizing the process by which Infantino was elected and has remained in power as fundamentally flawed. Tebas suggested that this institutional weakness has enabled decisions that prioritize spectacle over the health of professional football at all levels. FIFA has not publicly responded to these allegations.