FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing mounting pressure and challenges to his leadership following his decision to abandon a controversial proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. The plan, which aimed to raise $4.2 billion through a new commercial rights body, sparked significant backlash within the global football community and has led to fractures among FIFA’s regional confederations and national associations.
After Infantino withdrew the proposal late last week, he issued an apology for the division it caused, but the move appeared to weaken his authority. Several major European football federations, including England’s Football Association, have formally withdrawn support for his re-election at the FIFA Congress scheduled for March in Morocco. Denmark also stated it would never support Infantino. Conversely, federations from Morocco, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Sri Lanka have publicly maintained their backing for the Swiss-Italian leader, who has been at FIFA’s helm since 2016 and seeks to extend his tenure until 2031.
The backlash is particularly pronounced from UEFA and CONCACAF, the European and North/Central American football confederations, which expressed a loss of confidence in Infantino’s leadership. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), typically more supportive of FIFA leadership, stopped short of outright condemnation but called for institutional reforms and denounced the lack of consultation surrounding the plan as “totally unacceptable.” Reports indicate that UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC may be considering efforts to force Infantino from office, including potentially paralyzing FIFA or launching rival competitions if he refuses to step down.
FIFA’s executive is now bracing against the risk of an Extraordinary Congress, which could be triggered if at least 43 member associations submit a formal request. Infantino’s political survival depends on rebuilding alliances across FIFA’s 211 member federations, many of which, particularly in less wealthy regions, rely heavily on FIFA funding and were initially courted with promises tied to the abandoned plan.
Alongside institutional challenges, Infantino recently convened senior FIFA staff for crisis discussions in Rabat, Morocco, highlighting the gravity of the situation. Accusations have emerged alleging that FIFA sought to “blackmail” member countries into supporting Infantino, with assertions from figures like Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, president of the Jordanian Football Association, who rejected pressure to endorse the incumbent. Prince Ali claimed FIFA withheld promised financial assistance to his federation pending his political support, underscoring concerns about FIFA’s internal dealings under Infantino’s leadership.
Meanwhile, Sepp Blatter, Infantino’s predecessor and himself a controversial figure, publicly endorsed Norway’s Lise Klaveness as a potential future FIFA president. Klaveness, a UEFA executive committee member, is regarded as a key figure in organizing resistance to Infantino and is noted for her critical stance on FIFA’s decisions regarding World Cup host selections and awards.
As the November 18 deadline for candidacy nominations approaches, FIFA’s political landscape remains volatile, with opposition groups seeking a candidate capable of bridging differing regional interests. The agency’s unity and leadership direction appear uncertain as stakeholders weigh the future of soccer’s global governing body.