The State Department is denying the accuracy of a New York Post report suggesting FIFA President Gianni Infantino was set to speak with Secretary of State Marco Rubio as Infantino faces increasing pressure to resign following a failed bid to secure private funding for the World Cup.

It was last Tuesday when The Times reported on new plans of FIFA president Gianni Infantino to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors via the so-called FFE (FIFA Forward Enterprise) plan. It was a rush job with a September 19 deadline to back his plans to sell stakes in the World Cup or face a 75% reduction in potential funding from the deal.

Pressure is building on Fifa president Gianni Infantino but if he goes, who comes in?

Gianni Infantino’s position as FIFA President is under immense pressure following his plan to sell a stake in the World Cup. Infantino’s latest proposal involved private investment in FIFA’s competitions,

European football’s governing body UEFA threatened to boycott FIFA events and accused the organization of putting the sport’s “soul” up for sale over the proposal.

The English Football Association is set to become the latest governing body to withdraw support for Gianni Infantino's bid for re-election as head of FIFA, increasing the pressure on him to quit. Wales and Finland have already dropped their support.

Infantino has reportedly attempted to contact Trump by phone several times since the investment proposal collapsed on Friday but has been unable to reach him.

The English and Welsh associations have formally withdrawn their support for Gianni Infantino as the pressure continues to mount on the FIFA president.

By Ian Ransom MELBOURNE, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Gianni Infantino’s hopes of extending his FIFA presidency may rest less on winning back soccer's traditional powers than on calling in favours from the many small and emerging nations that rely heavily on the world governing body's largesse.