FIFA: Gianni Infantino breathes a huge sigh of relief

On shaky ground, the president prepares for re-election in 2027, but his support is starting to crack

World Today at 05:00

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FIFA: Gianni Infantino breathes a huge sigh of relief

Despite the uproar caused by his financial project, Gianni Infantino remains in office and is already gearing up for another electoral battle in March 2027.

Currently, Gianni Infantino is not facing any official removal proceedings. According to Le Parisien, no motion of no-confidence was discussed at recent UEFA meetings, despite the outrage sparked by his aborted plan to open up FIFA's commercial capital to private investors.

No extraordinary congress requested

FIFA's statutes do allow for an extraordinary congress to be convened at the request of 20% of the 211 member associations—that is, 43 federations. Any potential ousting would then require a majority of at least 106 votes.

However, no federation, including the French Football Federation, has yet initiated this process. UEFA remains highly critical and claims to have "lost confidence" in Infantino, but now appears to be favoring an electoral showdown over an immediate attempt to unseat him.

The Italo-Swiss president does indeed intend to run again for a term covering 2027–2031. The election is scheduled for March 18, 2027, in Morocco, during the next FIFA congress.

Africa remains his main support base

Before the crisis erupted, the 54 member associations of CAF had unanimously pledged their support to Infantino. Several African officials, including Fouzi Lekjaa, as well as leaders from Egypt, Niger, Mauritania, and DR Congo, have since publicly renewed their confidence in the incumbent president.

Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are also reportedly backing his re-election. Conversely, several European federations, notably those of England, Finland, Wales, and Greece, have withdrawn their support or are calling for a change in governance.

Concacaf, whose 41 members initially supported Infantino, is now said to be reassessing its position. In Asia, the situation appears more divided. Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein, president of the Jordanian federation, notably refuses to back him and accuses FIFA of using its financial assistance as a political pressure tool.

The Nasser Al-Khelaïfi option cools down

The name of Nasser Al-Khelaïfi quickly made the rounds in European discussions. President of Paris Saint-Germain and the European Football Clubs Association, the Qatari executive would seem to have the profile to rally parts of both Europe and the Middle East.

Several UEFA officials reportedly considered convincing him to take on Infantino. However, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi has ruled out any bid for the FIFA presidency. His entry into the race would therefore require a major turnaround. For now, no official challenger has come forward.

Host cities demand $11 million

Infantino must also deal with demands from the American cities that hosted the 2026 World Cup. The eleven cities involved insist that FIFA had promised them each a $1 million contribution to fund local legacy projects.

Several weeks after the final, no payment is said to have been made yet. The eleven American host cities are still waiting for the money FIFA promised, even though they've already shouldered significant expenses for security, infrastructure, and fan zones.

Some municipalities are now considering legal action. While there is no immediate threat of removal, the accumulation of these crises could nonetheless destabilize Infantino's campaign and turn the 2027 election into a genuine referendum on his leadership.