Fifa President Gianni Infantino faces mounting challenges to his leadership as confederations around the world express varied and increasingly vocal positions on his proposed World Cup deal and overall governance.

In Europe, the Union of European Football Associations (Uefa) has taken a leading role in opposing Infantino’s re-election. Uefa’s recent move to threaten a boycott of all Fifa competitions if the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme was not abandoned contributed significantly to the plan’s collapse. In a sharply worded statement, Uefa declared that Infantino’s leadership had lost the confidence not only of European members but also of many others within the global football community. Several prominent national associations within Uefa, including those of England and Wales, have withdrawn their support for Infantino’s bid, with ongoing efforts to encourage more to follow.

Asia’s Football Confederation (AFC) remains divided in its stance. While the AFC leadership has publicly criticized the proposed World Cup arrangement and called for reforms within Fifa, consensus among the confederation’s 47 member federations is lacking. AFC President Sheikh Salman, who has maintained the unity of the confederation amid various challenges, faces pressures from influential West Asian nations such as Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, which continue to back Infantino. Observers note the possibility that an Asian candidate might emerge as a unifying alternative should the leadership's opposition to Infantino strengthen. Meanwhile, Jordan’s Prince Ali bin Hussein has accused Infantino of exerting “blackmail,” a statement some see as a turning point in the dispute.

North and Central America, along with the Caribbean’s Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf), has also articulated strong opposition. After outright rejecting the FFE proposal, Concacaf issued a statement condemning the plan as a “symptom of leadership that has stopped putting football first” and called for serious accountability regarding Infantino’s presidency. This stance, voiced by Concacaf’s 41 member associations, marked one of the clearest challenges to Infantino’s authority. Victor Montagliani, Concacaf’s president and a Fifa vice-president, has not publicly spoken on the issue but his organization’s statement indicates willingness to oppose the current leadership, with some speculation that he could emerge as a potential alternative candidate.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has expressed its unified support for Infantino’s re-election. CAF President Patrice Motsepe affirmed that all 54 member associations back the Fifa president ahead of next year’s elections in Morocco. This contrasts with the position of other confederations that have been more openly critical.

South America’s football body, Conmebol, has remained notably circumspect following the controversy. Its president, Alejandro Domínguez, has largely avoided taking a public stance, instead emphasizing the importance of putting football first and seeking further details on the matter. Analysts interpret Conmebol’s position as one of cautious support, aiming to protect the region’s interests within Fifa without engaging in a direct confrontation. Domínguez’s approach appears calibrated to maintain institutional ties and negotiation leverage rather than express outright loyalty. Leading South American countries such as Brazil and Argentina, closely overseen by Domínguez, are expected to align with this moderate posture.

In Oceania, the response remains uncertain. While New Zealand, the confederation’s principal member, was quick to oppose the World Cup proposal, the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) itself has not issued a definitive position, with some member associations reportedly continuing to support Infantino.

As the dynamics among Fifa’s six confederations evolve in the lead-up to the 2027 election, Infantino’s grip on power appears vulnerable, particularly given the coalition building against him in regions representing significant portions of the football world. However, divisions within and between confederations suggest the outcome remains uncertain.