Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s president, is under hot pressure after a failed attempt to sell stakes in the world’s biggest football competitions to private investors.
UEFA, the European federation, has stepped up its opposition and is even threatening a boycott of FIFA events, showing that it no longer feels secure with Infantino in charge.
Other federations, like Concacaf (the North‑Central‑American confederation) and the AFC (Asia), are calling for a full review of FIFA’s leadership and have backed the move.
Key advisers who once supported Infantino have now left the organisation, adding to the growing criticism.
Infantino’s survival will depend on how he handles the coming months. Options for him are: a forced resignation if 19 of 37 council members call a meeting, or a full election if 43 member countries ask for it. UEFA can trigger the vote about any time.
Potential candidates for the next FIFA president include Concacaf president Victor Montagliani, who has links to the 2026 World Cup, and AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa. The Qatari club owner Nasser Al‑Khelaifi is another name that appears on some lists, though he has expressed no interest.
Infantino could still grab the job in the March election if he wins from the sidelines. For the time being, the biggest support seems to come from Malaysia and Egypt, who have publicly backed him. Still, big sponsors might pull out if the backlash continues.
Reality check: this drama could keep tearing up the world of football for months. Stay tuned for the next move.
