FIFA President Gianni Infantino faces mounting opposition ahead of the organization’s presidential election next year, following a controversial internal plan to sell stakes in the World Cup. While a summit meeting in Rabat, Morocco, this week ended with senior FIFA officials publicly reaffirming their support for Infantino’s presidency, significant dissent remains, particularly from European football authorities.

The plan, known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, aimed to involve private investors in managing the World Cup and other competitions but was widely criticized both inside and outside FIFA. FIFA issued an apology over the plan and acknowledged missteps in its handling, promising a review while asserting compliance with its regulatory framework. However, the apology has failed to quell calls for leadership change from some quarters.

UEFA, Europe’s soccer governing body representing 55 countries, has been particularly vocal in its condemnation. It has withdrawn support for Infantino and has threatened to boycott future FIFA competitions until its demands are met — specifically, the withdrawal of the controversial proposals and assurances that similar attempts will not be repeated. UEFA’s loss of confidence was reiterated after the Rabat meeting, underscoring a deep rift. The Women’s Under-20 World Cup scheduled for September in Poland and the qualified stages for next year’s Women’s World Cup have become focal points of uncertainty amid these tensions.

Several European national federations, including England, Wales, Sweden, Serbia, and Finland, have formally withdrawn support. Other continental bodies in Asia and the Americas have also expressed varying degrees of opposition, though no confederation is bound to vote collectively in the upcoming March election. Infantino’s traditional support base remains strong in Africa, which comprises 54 voting members, and he has secured backing from federations including the 2022 World Cup host Qatar. Yet, the exact balance of votes remains unclear as federations reassess their positions.

Within FIFA’s leadership, the controversy has led to internal resignations and public distancing from the plan. Senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned, and chief operating officer Kevin Lamour said staff felt “deceived” by Infantino’s lack of transparency. Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s chief of global football development, also publicly distanced himself from the initiative. Despite this, FIFA’s official statement after the crisis meeting emphasized the “full support” of management board members present, including Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom.

The political landscape within world football remains fractious. Several potential challengers to Infantino have been discussed, including Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser al-Khelaifi, who is viewed by some as a unifying figure but has publicly declined any interest in the FIFA presidency. Other names mentioned include Canadian FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani and outspoken critics like Norwegian football president Lise Klaveness and Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, president of the Asian Football Confederation.

Infantino, who has overseen the expansion of the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams and recently facilitated the awarding of the 2034 tournament to Saudi Arabia, plans to seek a fourth and final term in office through 2031. The November 18 deadline for candidates to enter the race approaches amid increasing uncertainty about FIFA’s governance and the future direction of world football.

In addition to internal political strife, FIFA has faced external scrutiny, including reports implicating it in talks related to the aborted European Super League project in 2020, which FIFA has since publicly denounced.

As the March vote approaches, FIFA’s ability to maintain unity and address concerns over governance and transparency will remain under intense scrutiny, with UEFA’s threat to boycott competitions highlighting the stakes involved for the global game.