Sweden Withdraws Support for FIFA President Infantino Amid World Cup Share Controversy; European Athletics Events Broadcast in Sweden

The Swedish Football Association (SvFF) has announced that it will no longer support Gianni Infantino for re-election as FIFA president in the upcoming March 2027 election. This decision stems mainly from Infantino's controversial proposal to sell shares of the World Cup, a suggestion that sparked backlash including threats of boycott from UEFA and its 55 member nations. Simon Åström, president of SvFF, cited the undemocratic nature of this proposal as the decisive factor tipping the scales against Infantino's leadership.

Additionally, Åström mentioned other leadership criticisms such as the establishment of FIFA's peace prize and decisions like the suspension of US player Folarin Balogun during the World Cup, which have led to declining trust among the Swedish football establishment. Following Finland's withdrawal of support on July 30, SvFF aims to collaborate with UEFA and other national federations to identify a more suitable candidate for FIFA's presidency, though no alternatives have been publicly named yet.

In parallel sporting news, Swedish audiences can look forward to engaging international athletics competitions. The European Athletics Championships are underway in Birmingham, with events including men’s long jump, hammer throw finals, and the highly anticipated men’s 100m sprint final. Live broadcasts in Sweden begin August 11 at 20:00, featuring expert commentary from Jacob Hård, Ola Bränholm, and Alhaji Jeng, hosted by André Pops.

Looking ahead within Sweden, the final Folksam GP athletics event of the season is set for August 24 at Slottsskogsvallen in Göteborg. This marks a significant highlight in the Swedish athletics calendar, with commentary provided by Niklas Nord and Alhaji Jeng. Like the European championships broadcast, this event will be available exclusively to viewers within Sweden.

These developments reflect Sweden’s active engagement in both international sports governance and athletics, showcasing the nation’s influence and enthusiasm across sporting disciplines.