Gianni Infantino, president of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), is facing mounting opposition to his leadership amid controversy over his recent proposal to commercialize the World Cup. The backlash has led to a significant loss of support from key football associations and political figures, raising questions about his prospects for re-election in 2027.
Infantino’s plan involved selling approximately a 20 percent stake in a new commercial entity intended to manage the World Cup and other FIFA competitions. The proposal reportedly included investment from private stakeholders, among them Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, who is connected to former U.S. President Donald Trump through family ties. The plan met with fierce resistance, particularly from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and CONCACAF, which threatened to boycott the tournament. Several national football associations, including England’s Football Association and the Football Association of Wales, formally withdrew their support following the announcement.
The proposal was abandoned last Friday as pressure intensified. UEFA’s leadership, along with counterparts from Asia and the Americas, have since expressed determination to remove Infantino from office. Sources suggest that these officials may refuse to participate in FIFA meetings or endorse decisions if Infantino seeks a fourth term extending his presidency to 2031.
Infantino's attempts to secure political backing have so far been unsuccessful. He reportedly made multiple efforts to contact Donald Trump, a former ally who had previously been awarded FIFA’s inaugural “Peace Prize” and appeared alongside Infantino at the recent World Cup. Reports indicate that Infantino sought Trump’s support to maintain his position, but Trump has not responded to these overtures. Additionally, Infantino sought private discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, but both FIFA and the U.S. State Department denied any such meetings are planned.
The former U.S. president has distanced himself from Infantino amid the controversy. Some reports noted that Trump had even considered nominating Infantino for the United Nations Secretary-General role, though no formal support has been made public. Meanwhile, political figures such as Andy Burnham, the UK’s Mayor of Greater Manchester, criticized the proposal as “outrageous,” adding to the growing calls for Infantino’s resignation.
With pressure mounting from football associations worldwide and political leaders, Gianni Infantino’s position is increasingly precarious. FIFA’s future direction and leadership remain uncertain as the organization navigates this period of internal dissent and controversy.