Infantino faces mounting pressure as FIFA presidency challenged

Gianni Infantino’s chances of remaining president of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) are increasingly in question after he withdrew his controversial plan to sell World Cup stakes to private investors, following strong opposition from several continental federations, most notably the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).

UEFA was among the leading football bodies to declare a loss of confidence in Infantino, with all 55 member associations insisting they would not participate in any FIFA-organized tournament unless the "FIFA Advanced Foundation" plan was scrapped. UEFA even threatened to boycott the next World Cup, prompting Infantino to withdraw the proposal on Friday evening.

The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) also reiterated its concerns over the lack of consultation, announcing its rejection of the plan, while the Asian Football Confederation called for an "urgent review of FIFA governance," further increasing pressure on the FIFA president.

With the FIFA presidential election set for March 2027, questions are mounting over Infantino’s future as his support among some continental federations wanes.

Calls are growing within UEFA to back a candidate to challenge Infantino, with UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin emerging as a leading contender.

Čeferin was absent from the 2026 World Cup final after controversy surrounding the tournament, including the suspension of Folarin Balogun being lifted following a "review" request by US President Donald Trump, which UEFA described as "crossing red lines."

The Slovenian lawyer has led UEFA since 2016 and is said to prefer remaining in his current role. He previously ruled out running for a third term as UEFA president next spring, at least until 2031, but is reportedly prepared to enter the FIFA race if no other candidate emerges.

However, Čeferin does not appear enthusiastic about running for FIFA president at this time, prompting some UEFA members to seek alternative candidates.

According to The Independent, Paris Saint-Germain chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi has been mentioned as a potential rival to Infantino.

Al-Khelaifi, who also chairs Qatar Sports Investments, holds several prominent football positions, including chairing the European Club Association after the collapse of the European Super League project. The association has also expressed "serious concern" over Infantino’s plan.

talkSPORT has reported that several UEFA federations, including Belgium and Poland, could support Al-Khelaifi, who is seen as one of the most prominent potential challengers to Infantino in the upcoming election. However, Al-Khelaifi would need significant persuasion to enter the race, as he currently shows no desire to run.

A spokesperson for Al-Khelaifi told Politico: "Nasser has no ambition, intention, or interest in taking a position at FIFA, and will continue to quietly support all global and European football institutions."

Some UEFA members are also considering supporting Dariusz Mioduski, owner of Legia Warsaw, with talkSPORT reporting that officials from the football associations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Spain have put forward the Polish lawyer’s name as a possible candidate.

However, Mioduski currently lacks strong support in his home country, as the Polish Football Association prefers to back Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

Outside Europe, Victor Montagliani, president of CONCACAF, has emerged as a potential successor to Infantino, given his well-known ambition to lead FIFA in the future.

Montagliani was unanimously re-elected as CONCACAF president in 2023, with his current term ending in 2027. For now, he is focused on seeking re-election next year.

According to the i newspaper, Montagliani has begun taking steps to accelerate his ambitions and challenge Infantino in the March 2027 FIFA election, as support for him grows in some circles.

Montagliani’s CONCACAF also rejected FIFA’s proposal, aligning with UEFA’s position, though it stopped short of threatening to boycott tournaments.

In Asia, the Asian Football Confederation also opposed Infantino’s plans, a major blow to the FIFA president as he lost support from a region previously considered a stronghold.

AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, who also serves as FIFA vice president, described FIFA’s lack of consultation with its members as "completely unacceptable" in a message to the 47 member associations before the meeting that ended with the proposal’s rejection.

The AFC later called for an "urgent review of FIFA governance," fueling speculation that Sheikh Salman may enter the FIFA presidential race. His current term as AFC president ends in 2027.