Fifa president Gianni Infantino appears poised for re-election despite significant opposition, according to sources familiar with internal discussions within world football. Insiders say Infantino has consolidated enough support among Fifa’s 211 member associations to secure another term, forcing his critics to reconsider strategies aimed at limiting his influence rather than defeating him outright.

This marks a notable turnaround from the weeks immediately following the recent World Cup, when many senior figures in the sport considered Infantino’s position precarious. One source acknowledged that just three weeks ago, they believed his presidency was effectively over. However, they later recognized that Infantino’s decade-long tenure had allowed him to forge durable alliances that have proved difficult to break.

Infantino, 56, encountered his most significant challenge this year after the failure of a controversial proposal to sell a 20 percent stake in Fifa competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors. The initiative met with strong resistance from key football bodies such as Uefa, the Asian Football Confederation, and North America’s Concacaf, all of which called for reform at Fifa’s highest level.

In recent weeks, multiple European associations have withdrawn support for Infantino’s third term bid, with France being the latest to announce opposition. Despite this, no candidate has yet emerged with a realistic chance of securing the broad coalition of support required across Fifa’s global membership to unseat Infantino.

At Fifa Congress, each national association holds one vote, making it essential for challengers to build alliances beyond Uefa’s 55 members to succeed. Without a cross-confederation coalition, the risk of a failed challenge grows, potentially strengthening Infantino’s grip on the organization rather than weakening it.

“The direction of travel has changed,” a source commented, emphasizing that taking Infantino to a vote and losing would pose a considerable risk for Uefa and its allies.

Among potential challengers, Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is regarded by prominent football officials as one of the few figures capable of assembling the diverse coalition needed to mount a successful bid. However, as the March election approaches, Infantino’s substantial support base remains a significant obstacle for any contender aiming to displace him.