Is Gianni Infantino beginning to lose control of FIFA? And what will Larry Berg change when he takes over Major League Soccer?
After a decade of expanding FIFA’s competitions, revenues and global influence, Gianni Infantino is facing one of the most serious challenges to his leadership.
A controversial proposal to create a new FIFA commercial enterprise and sell a minority stake to outside investors has triggered opposition from some of football’s most powerful organizations.
UEFA pushed back. Concacaf raised concerns. FIFA Council members questioned why they had not been properly consulted.
And suddenly, a FIFA president who has spent years consolidating power is facing questions about how that power is being used.
In this episode of Finance of Football, Michael and Asli examine the politics and economics behind the crisis.
Why did FIFA want outside investment in its World Cup business?
What could billions of dollars in new capital mean for FIFA’s 211 member associations?
Why has transparency become such a major issue?
Could opposition inside global football actually threaten Infantino’s position?
And ahead of FIFA’s next presidential election, is there anyone capable of challenging him?
Then the conversation turns to another major leadership change.
Major League Soccer has officially named Larry Berg as the successor to longtime commissioner Don Garber.
Berg, an LAFC co-owner with decades of experience in private equity and sports investment, will inherit an MLS that looks radically different from the league Garber took over in 1999.
The challenge is no longer survival.
It is growth.
Can MLS become one of the world’s leading domestic soccer leagues?
Can it build on the attention generated by Lionel Messi and the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Can Berg secure the media distribution and broadcast revenues MLS needs to compete for the world’s best players?
And how far can the league change its salary cap and roster rules without undermining the financial model that helped create billion-dollar club valuations?
Michael and Asli also discuss the future of the Apple relationship, international stars including Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski, the debate around promotion and relegation, expansion fees and whether MLS can realistically become the sixth-best league in world football.
FIFA and MLS are entering very different battles.
One organization is questioning how much power its president should have.
The other has just chosen the man it believes can take the league to the next level.
Is Gianni Infantino’s grip on FIFA beginning to weaken?
And can Larry Berg deliver MLS 3.0?
Listen now to Finance of Football.
---
For more, follow Asli and Michael on Instagram
Asli - @brefootcontessa
Michael - @michale.lore
And follow the show…
On Instagram - @financeoffootballpod
On Facebook - /financeoffootball
---
Finance of Football - Nations and Numbers, a Frequency Machine Podcast, is…
Written, Hosted, and Produced by Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé
Editing and Sound Design by Ryan Hammond
Mixing and Mastering by Julian Kwasneski
Executive Produced by Ryan Hammond, Stacey Book and Avi Glijansky
---
Check out more of Frequency Machine’s podcasts - including Undercover Sports, a show about the wildest sports conspiracy theories, at frequencymachine.com
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
