Gianni Infantino’s position as Fifa president has come under significant threat following his proposal to sell stakes in Fifa competitions to private investment firms without apparent consultation with other stakeholders. Within days of the plan’s emergence, key football confederations and allied nations have registered strong opposition to both the initiative and Infantino’s continued leadership.
Uefa issued a boycott threat targeting all Fifa competitions, including the World Cup, and subsequently declared it had lost confidence in Infantino after he backtracked on the investment proposal. Concacaf, which collaborated closely with Infantino on organizing the 2026 World Cup, called for a comprehensive review of Fifa’s leadership. The Asian Football Confederation also joined the criticism despite previously being considered aligned with Infantino. Additionally, two of his closest associates—senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro and chief operating officer Kevin Lamour—departed in the aftermath.
Several potential pathways could lead to Infantino’s removal or departure. The most straightforward option would be his voluntary resignation, though he retains some support and could attempt to remain in position until his re-election scheduled for March. An emergency Fifa Council meeting could be triggered if 19 of the 37 Council members call for one, though observers suggest achieving this threshold is uncertain. An extraordinary congress of all 211 Fifa member associations represents another avenue, requiring written requests from 43 associations—a threshold Uefa can easily meet with its 55 members. Such a congress would require 106 votes to pass a no-confidence measure.
Finding a viable alternative candidate represents a crucial challenge for those seeking Infantino’s removal. Concacaf president Victor Montagliani and Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa have emerged as potential candidates. However, a European-led effort to replace Infantino could be perceived as an attempt by Uefa to consolidate power within Fifa. The candidacy announcement deadline is set for 18 November, with any election occurring in March.
Infantino appears to be pursuing a strategy of seeking renewed support from member associations, suggesting his intent to bring interested parties together. Morocco and Egypt have already expressed backing following his reversal of the investment plan. The unfolding situation remains fluid, with Infantino banking on time to rebuild relationships and persuade former allies that the episode was merely an isolated misstep. Potential sponsor withdrawals could significantly escalate pressure on his position, though no major sponsors have distanced themselves thus far.
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