FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing the most serious threat to his leadership in years, with growing opposition from football associations across the world following the collapse of his controversial plan to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investors.
Just weeks ago, Infantino appeared certain to secure a fourth term in office at the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027, having received support from the overwhelming majority of FIFA’s 210 voting member associations.
However, the fallout from the abandoned investment proposal has dramatically altered the political landscape within world football.
According to a BBC Sport assessment of FIFA’s membership, support for Infantino has fallen sharply, with the current picture suggesting 73 associations are backing him, 124 are opposed, and 13 remain undecided.
Powerful confederations turn against FIFA chief
The biggest blow to Infantino came when UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) jointly accused him of breaching their trust over the investment proposal.
Together, those three confederations represent 136 member associations, making their coordinated criticism a significant challenge to his authority.
Several European nations, including England and Wales, have already withdrawn their previous endorsements of Infantino’s candidacy.
Despite the backlash, the picture is not entirely one-sided.
Some AFC members, including Bhutan, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates, have publicly backed Infantino, while Mexico has also broken ranks within Concacaf by supporting him.
Africa and South America remain key strongholds
Infantino continues to enjoy strong support in Africa (CAF) and South America (Conmebol), where many associations have benefited from increased FIFA funding under the FIFA Forward programme.
That financial support could prove crucial as Infantino seeks to rebuild his coalition ahead of the election.
Asia is increasingly viewed as the potential swing region, with many associations yet to publicly declare their position.
Election battle now possible
For the first time in years, a contested FIFA presidential election appears possible.
A candidate would need 106 votes to win in a direct contest, while a first-round victory with multiple candidates would require a two-thirds majority.
No challenger has officially emerged, but attention has increasingly focused on Concacaf president Victor Montagliani, who is widely regarded as a potential unity candidate should the opposition coalesce behind a single contender.
The deadline for candidates to declare their intention to stand is November.
Infantino still fighting for survival
Although Infantino has shown no indication that he intends to resign, there is growing speculation that pressure could intensify before the election.
A special FIFA Council meeting could theoretically be called if enough council members demand it, though the current composition of the council makes that scenario less likely.
The coming months are expected to be decisive, with the positions of Saudi Arabia, Oceania and several undecided Asian associations likely to shape the final outcome.
What once looked like a routine re-election has now become a genuine political battle, and Infantino is no longer guaranteed another term at the helm of world football.
