ESPN's Mark Ogden has published his final grades for all of the major figures at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and he had a rather harsh critique of embattled FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
In his feature, Infantino was one of only two figures to receive an F grade (the other being Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa), with Ogden admonishing Infantino for introducing the hydration breaks, a halftime show and for his "attention-seeking attempts" throughout the tournament.
"Enough of the attention-seeking attempts to claim the tournament as your own little playground for celebrities, politicians and fading players. And thanks for the World Cup final halftime show and all those hydration breaks. No ... really," Ogden wrote.
Infantino Under Fire
Ogden is hardly the first and won't be the last media figure to criticize and challenge Infantino. As it so happens, the entire European soccer confederation (UEFA) is looking to do the same.
There have been multiple reports that UEFA is seeking to unseat Infantino in an upcoming election and end his 10-year run as the head of the biggest soccer organization in the world.
Infantino's tenure as FIFA president has been marked by significant commercial growth alongside persistent controversy over governance, ethics, and human rights. Since taking office in 2016 following the corruption scandal that ended Sepp Blatter's presidency, Infantino has overseen the expansion of the men's FIFA World Cup from 32 to 48 teams, the creation of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, and record-breaking revenues through new sponsorship and broadcasting agreements.
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However, critics have accused him of consolidating power within FIFA, weakening independent oversight, and maintaining close relationships with governments and political leaders whose human rights records have drawn international scrutiny. His decision to relocate to Qatar for an extended period before the 2022 World Cup and his outspoken defense of the tournament amid criticism over migrant worker conditions generated widespread backlash from human rights organizations and some European soccer associations.
Infantino has also faced criticism over FIFA's bidding and hosting decisions, including awarding the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia after an expedited selection process that many observers argued limited meaningful competition. Additional controversies have included ethics investigations into his meetings with Swiss prosecutors during FIFA corruption inquiries, disputes over the international match calendar and expanded tournaments, and concerns from clubs and players about fixture congestion.
