Infantino's Future in Doubt as FIFA Leaders Eye Possible Succession
Gianni Infantino faces mounting opposition within FIFA after proposing a 64-team World Cup and a stake-sale scheme, prompting calls for a leadership change before the March 2027 election.
Gianni Infantino’s tenure as FIFA president is under intense scrutiny after he backed a 64-team World Cup and a controversial plan to sell shares in the men’s and women’s tournaments to private investors. The backlash has come from senior officials across the sport, including the Asian Football Confederation, which issued a strongly worded letter denouncing the stake-sale process. To remove Infantino before the March 2027 presidential vote, 43 of FIFA’s 211 member associations would need to initiate a no-confidence motion.
While no official candidate has entered the race, names such as AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Concacaf chief Victor Montagliani, UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin, and Norwegian FA leader Lise Klaveness are being floated, with a filing deadline of Nov. 18. If Infantino runs, he would need backing from 106 associations to secure a fourth term. The unfolding power struggle could reshape FIFA’s governance and its approach to future World Cups.
Why it matters
The leadership battle could alter FIFA’s governance and the future format of the World Cup.
How this story developed
- Aug 5 FIFA president convenes urgent meeting in Morocco amid backlash over private World Cup plan
- Aug 6 Infantino issued an apology and withdrew the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal.
- Aug 6 FIFA leadership issued a statement confirming support for Infantino after the stake‑sale proposal was withdrawn.
- Aug 6 FIFA president Gianni Infantino and deputy Mattias Grafström signed a letter admitting errors in the private‑investment proposal and confirming its withdrawal.
- Aug 6 UEFA confirmed that its 55 member associations will continue to boycott FIFA events, saying the conditions for a return have not been met.
- Aug 7 UEFA announced that a European boycott may still move forward after the English FA withdrew its support.
- Aug 7 UEFA said it is aware of an allegation that it provided a six-figure departure payment and funded an MBA for a woman said to have been involved with Gianni Infantino while he worked for the body.
- Aug 8 Infantino attended Colombia’s presidential inauguration and met CONMEBOL officials.
- Aug 9 FIFA issued a statement denying the allegations.
- Aug 10 UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF issued a joint letter accusing FIFA president Gianni Infantino of breaching trust by pushing a rushed proposal to sell World Cup commercial rights.
- Aug 11 Donald Trump publicly urged FIFA to keep Infantino as president.
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