Gianni Infantino’s tenure as Fifa president has reached a critical turning point as major football confederations move to block his controversial proposals to sell stakes in the World Cup and other tournaments to private investors. Despite an initial sense of confidence following the recent World Cup, the internal walls around Infantino are rapidly collapsing as a significant bloc of member associations rejects his leadership.
The opposition is led by Uefa, which has threatened a boycott of the World Cup if the proposals proceed. This stance has gained substantial momentum, with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Concacaf officially rejecting the plans. These three federations represent a voting bloc of approximately 150 of Fifa’s 211 member associations, enough to comfortably defeat the president’s agenda in a vote scheduled for next month. The Independent understands that the vast majority of Concacaf’s 41 members have rejected the proposals, which sought to secure funding through 2034. Concerns have been raised regarding Infantino’s tactical attempts to sway smaller nations by offering $40 million for backing his proposals while threatening to reduce funding to just $10 million for those who oppose them.
Internal dissent has also reached the highest levels of Fifa. On Friday, long-time adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned in protest, stating that after 35 years in banking, he recognized both the value of the football asset and the severe consequences of liquidating parts of it. Similarly, AFC president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has become a vocal critic, accusing Fifa of undermining the World Cup and calling for an urgent governance review. While Fifa issued a statement claiming the consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports, the damage to Infantino’s standing appears profound, especially as the organization looks toward the 2022 cycle and beyond. Critics note that Infantino’s approach has alienated 64 of his key stakeholders, leaving his long-term vision in doubt.
Critics argue that Infantino has prioritized his political interests and the financial incentives of private investors—reportedly including members of Donald Trump’s family—over the sport itself. Uefa has described this as a failure of leadership and an abdication of Fifa’s duty as the custodian of world football. As the confederations of South America and Africa have yet to publicly declare their positions, the pressure on Infantino continues to mount.
Talk of potential successors has already begun, with Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin, Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, and the president of the Football Association of Norway, Lise Klaveness, being discussed as figures who could challenge the current regime. For many, the rejection of these investment proposals must now serve as a broader rejection of Infantino himself and the governance structure he has fostered.
