Gianni Infantino defied a request by one of his FIFA vice presidents to stay away from an Under-14 soccer event in the Caribbean and instead made a rare public appearance during the global furor over his failed plan to sell future World Cup profits to private investors.

On Saturday, Infantino posted photos on his Instagram account showing the FIFA president meeting political and soccer officials from the Dominican Republic on the sidelines of a Caribbean Football Union (CFU) youth tournament in the Punta Cana resort.

On Friday, Infantino had been asked not to go by Victor Montagliani, the Canadian president of Miami-based continental soccer body CONCACAF, to avoid being a distraction from the soccer games.

“I believe that considering the governance crisis surrounding FIFA as a result of your controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, the media will focus on this situation,” Montagliani wrote in an emailed letter seen by The Associated Press, “which will unfortunately significantly take away from the technical nature of the CFU youth competition.”

“As such, I respectfully ask you in the name of football to reconsider your attendance as it will unfortunately undermine the technical nature of this important youth development activity,” Montagliani wrote.

Read moreSenior FIFA official FIFA Kevin Lamour leaves after criticising Gianni Infantino

FIFA declined to comment on the Montagliani request, though noted it directly funds regional bodies like the CFU with up to $5 million from each four-year World Cup cycle.

Montagliani has aligned with fellow FIFA vice presidents Aleksander Ceferin from European body UEFA and Asian Football Confederation president Sheik Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa in seeking to end Infantino’s increasingly executive presidency now in its 11th year.

They accused Infantino two weeks ago of “deception” in secretly planning over the past year to spin off FIFA’s multi-billion dollar commercial activities to a subsidiary 20% owned by investors led by Joshua Kushner.

Infantino withdrew the project on Aug. 1 amid a global backlash by soccer leaders and fans, and hours after his own chief operating officer published stinging criticism of the proposal and his leadership style in a statement to the AP. The Zurich-based COO, Kevin Lamour, was fired this week.

Read moreFIFA closes ranks round Infantino amid mounting leadership crisis

Caribbean member federations are seen as potential supporters for Infantino to peel away from their CONCACAF leadership. South American body CONMEBOL has backed Infantino as its best path to hosting more games at the 2030 World Cup it wants expanded from 48 teams to 64.

The FIFA leader has not taken questions publicly since the $20 billion FFE project was revealed July 28 by British daily The Times, and on Friday in Punta Cana he evaded a reporter from British broadcaster Sky News.

Asked by Sky reporter James Matthews if he had betrayed the sport and should resign, Infantino said “Thank you so much” and made quips about both men being bald.

Infantino is aiming to be re-elected for a fourth and final term in office through 2031 at the FIFA election congress next March in Rabat, Morocco. FIFA has set Nov. 18 as a deadline for would-be candidates to enter the race.

(FRANCE 24 with AP)

AEW is set to present its biggest show of the year, All In 2026, on Sunday, August 30, at Wembley Stadium in London, England. The company has assembled a stacked match card with multiple title matches, and several AEW stars could leave the show as new champions.

The All In 2026 event will feature top challengers like Mercedes Moné, Will Ospreay, Darby Allin, Konosuke Takeshita, and many others competing in high-stakes title matches. While some are looking to reclaim championship glory, others are eyeing their first-ever titles in the Jacksonville-based promotion, including stars who could debut at the show. Here are five top names who could become new champions at AEW All In 2026:

#5. Claudio Castagnoli

Claudio Castagnoli has impressed audiences with his performance in AEW and in the Continental Challenge Cup, which has been underway in recent weeks. The Swiss Superman outlasted Ace Austin in the first-round match and recently beat his Death Riders cohort, Daniel Garcia, on the August 22 episode of Collision to advance to the semi-finals. Castagnoli will next face the Death Riders’ leader, Jon Moxley, in the semi-finals on the upcoming episode of Dynamite in Glasgow, Scotland. With his rising momentum in full force, the former WWE United States Champion is likely to defeat Moxley and then beat the other finalist of the Cup at All In 2026 to become the new AEW Continental Champion.

#4. Konosuke Takeshita

Kyle Fletcher is scheduled to defend his AEW International Championship against Kazuchika Okada and Konosuke Takeshita in a three-way bout at All In 2026. Despite being part of the Don Callis Family, Fletcher and Okada have had evident problems between them. It could lead to a scenario where tensions would explode between them, and Takeshita might take advantage of the situation and outlast Fletcher and Okada to win the International title for the third time.

#3. Darby Allin

The rivalry between Darby Allin and Kevin Knight ignited at Double or Nothing 2026. Right after Allin dropped the AEW World Championship to MJF in the main event, Knight came out and shockingly attacked The Invisible Man, turning heel in the process. Moreover, tensions have risen between the two stars, especially after Allin fell into Knight’s trap and was subjected to a pyro accident on Dynamite this week. The feud will lead to a Falls Count Anywhere match for Knight’s TNT Championship at All In 2026. Following Allin’s short yet remarkable World title reign, it is expected that he will dethrone Knight at All In 2026, and this captivating program is likely to continue with more matches between two of the rising names in Tony Khan’s promotion.

#2. AEW star Swerve Strickland & The New Day, who could make their debut

Swerve Strickland crossed paths with the AEW World Trios Champions, Hangman Adam Page and Brodido (Bandido and Brody King) in recent weeks. The Mogul will now select two partners of his choice and challenge them for their Trios titles at All In 2026. It is heavily teased that Strickland’s partners will be none other than The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods), who are rumored to join All Elite Wrestling after recently becoming free agents following their WWE departure in May 2026. Tony Khan and his creative regime are likely to make a huge impact with The New Day’s rumored debut and can book them and Strickland to become new champions at All In.

#1. Mercedes Mone

Mercedes Mone is set to challenge her heated rival, Willow Nightingale, for the AEW Women’s World Championship at All In 2026. This will be the second year that Mone is competing for the title after coming up short against Timeless Toni Storm last year at All In Texas. The CEO returned to the company in June after a lengthy hiatus. She had been away due to dealing with some issues and blamed Nightingale. Mone had injured her ankle in a match against her in NJPW in 2023 and underwent therapy during her recent time away from All Elite Wrestling. Moreover, the former RAW Women’s Champion revealed that her post-therapy interaction was with Willow, who smiled at her knowing that it would annoy her.

“Not only did she see that I was hurt, but she stood over me after she pinned me and smiled at me. Me, the greatest women’s wrestler of all time, the woman that really pushed this era forward, the woman that made people believe that they can be women’s wrestlers..then I chose AEW and who was there to greet me? Her dumb*ss. I wanted those tag team titles you know I’m the greatest tag team wrestler of all time. Who was there to beat me? Dumb*ss Willow…. Then I was on the run of my life, 13 belts for me.. not only did she disrespect me, she threw cake at my face… And smiled at me,” Mone said.

Furthermore, Big D Mone is yet to capture the Women’s World title since her AEW debut in 2024. With Mercedes Mone preparing well for her big fight and possibly having learned from her shortcomings in her previous attempts to win the title and matches with Willow Nightingale, it is likely that she will walk out with the championship from All In 2026.