Just days after lifting the World Cup trophy with Donald Trump, FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing the biggest crisis of his career. Could this really be the end of his reign?
FIFA president Gianni Infantino was on top of the football world just two weeks ago. It sounds almost unbelievable now. On 19 July 2026, FIFA president Gianni Infantino handed the World Cup trophy to Spain alongside the US President. The tournament had just wrapped up across three nations, and everything looked perfect.
Then, in less than two weeks, everything changed.
The trigger was simple. FIFA president Gianni Infantino proposed a plan to sell stakes in Fifa competitions to private investors. He scrapped it under pressure. But the damage was already done. Uefa threatened to boycott Fifa competitions altogether. Concacaf and the AFC quickly backed that stance. Even FIFA’s own chief operating officer admitted the organisation’s administration had been kept in the dark.
So here’s the real question: is Gianni Infantino’s time as Fifa president coming to an end? And if so, who takes over?
This article breaks it all down. You’ll learn exactly what happened, why it matters, and who the top candidates are to replace him.
Why This Fifa Crisis Matters to Football Fans
Fifa runs the World Cup. That makes it the most powerful organisation in world football, and it is exactly why the Fifa president Gianni Infantino controversy carries so much weight. Therefore, whoever leads Fifa shapes decisions that touch every league, every club, and every fan on the planet.
When the man at the top loses the trust of major confederations, the ripple effects spread fast. Here’s why this moment feels so serious:
- Uefa, Concacaf, and the AFC together represent the vast majority of the football world. When all three raise concerns at once, it is not a small internal dispute.
- Trust has clearly broken down. These confederations rarely unite so publicly against a sitting Fifa president.
- Carlos Cordeiro resigned. He served as a special advisor to Infantino and was also appointed by Trump to the White House Task Force on the 2026 World Cup. His exit suggests even close allies are stepping back.
As a result, this is no longer just a controversy. It is a genuine test of Infantino’s grip on power.
What Actually Happened With Infantino’s Investment Plan
The controversy centres on one proposal from Fifa president Gianni Infantino: selling off stakes in Fifa competitions to private investment firms. Football’s governing bodies did not welcome the idea, and the backlash was swift.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham publicly condemned the plan. Fans were equally critical. Many saw it as a step too far in the commercialisation of the sport. Under mounting pressure, Infantino scrapped the plan entirely.
However, cancelling the proposal did not stop the fallout. Uefa responded with a threat to boycott Fifa competitions, and both Concacaf and the AFC reinforced that stance. This is a rare escalation. Confederations almost never unite so openly against the man running world football.
The AFC did not hold back either. In its own words, the controversy exposed deeper problems with how Fifa consults its members and makes decisions. Meanwhile, sources close to Concacaf say most of its member associations are either losing faith in Infantino’s leadership or have lost it completely.
Adding to the pressure, Fifa’s chief operating officer Kevin Lamour told Associated Press that Fifa’s own administration was misled about the investment project. When a top executive says he was deceived, it raises serious questions about transparency at the very top.
Fifa’s Response So Far
BBC Sport has approached Fifa for comment. So far, the organisation has not offered a detailed public rebuttal. That silence has only fuelled more speculation about Infantino’s next move.
Could Gianni Infantino Actually Lose His Job?
Despite the scale of the backlash, experienced football administrators urge caution before writing off Fifa president Gianni Infantino. Fifa does not operate like a normal organisation, and its politics rarely follow predictable patterns.
Former Football Association chairman David Bernstein explained it well. In a typical organisation, a leader forced to back down over something this big would likely be shown the door. Fifa, however, works differently. If Infantino retains support from enough national associations, he can simply continue.
Former Fifa vice-president Jim Boyce shares that view. He believes Infantino still has enough backing to be re-elected. Still, he admits that continued pressure could shift the picture. In fact, Boyce said that if he were a betting man, he would still expect Infantino to secure his final four-year term.
This matters because Fifa’s presidency is not decided by public opinion. It is decided by votes from national football associations, many of which have long, close ties to Infantino’s administration.
Infantino’s Background and Rise to Power
Understanding why Infantino might survive this storm means looking at his history. He has served as Fifa president since 2016. Before that, he spent seven years as secretary general of Uefa. Few people understand football politics better than he does.
Now 56, Infantino won the presidency by defeating Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman al-Khalifa, 115 votes to 88. His task at the time was to rebuild an organisation battered by corruption scandals after the resignation of his predecessor, Sepp Blatter. Blatter, notably, was cleared of corruption charges last year.
Since his election, Infantino has been re-elected unopposed twice. That pattern is not unusual in Fifa’s history. Blatter himself ran unopposed in both 2007 and 2011.
In fact, unseating a sitting Fifa president through an election is extremely rare. The last time it happened was in 1974, when Brazilian Joao Havelange defeated Sir Stanley Rous. Havelange then went unchallenged for five straight terms before finally resigning in 1998, aged 82. That history shows just how hard it is to remove a Fifa president once they are entrenched.
Even so, cracks are beginning to show. National associations had already submitted letters of support backing Infantino’s re-election. BBC Sport understands that at least one Uefa member has now withdrawn its letter as this week’s drama has unfolded. Whether more follows could prove decisive.
Who Might Replace Gianni Infantino as Fifa President?
If Fifa president Gianni Infantino does eventually step aside, several names are already in the conversation. Each candidate brings a different background, and each would steer Fifa in a different direction.
Victor Montagliani (Concacaf President)
Victor Montagliani is widely seen as one of the strongest potential candidates. Like Infantino, he was elected in 2016 on a platform of governance reform. As a former president of Canada Soccer, he played a major role as co-chair in delivering the 2026 World Cup, the first tournament ever hosted across three nations.
He is fluent in French, Italian, and Spanish, in addition to English. This gives him broad appeal across football’s different regions. Speaking about his rise to the Concacaf presidency, Montagliani described campaigning at his own expense for three months, visiting all 41 member countries.
He also led Concacaf through an expanded Copa America in 2024, though he has pushed back on making that permanent. Politically, he is known for building consensus. For example, he helped ease tensions around Arsene Wenger’s push for a World Cup every two years. He has also never fully supported expanding the tournament to 64 teams.
At the Leaders conference in 2025, Montagliani argued that football is bigger than any single leader and will always survive shifts in global power, even when those shifts cause short-term pain.
Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa (AFC President)
Sheikh Salman has led the AFC since 2013 and was re-elected unopposed for a fourth term running through 2027. Under his leadership, Asian football has grown fast, with the launch of the Champions League Elite, Champions League Two, the Challenge League, and the Women’s Champions League in 2024-25. The Asian Cup itself has expanded to 24 teams.
Notably, Sheikh Salman personally signed off on the AFC’s critical statement about how Fifa is being run under Infantino. He carries the backing of a 46-member confederation, many of whom know exactly how large Infantino’s scrapped investment plan was compared to their own football budgets.
Nasser Al-Khelaifi (PSG President and Chair of European Football Clubs)
Nasser Al-Khelaifi’s name comes up often, largely due to his influence rather than any stated ambition. He took over as chairman of what was then the European Clubs’ Association after the failed European Super League project collapsed within 48 hours in 2021.
Under his leadership, the group rebranded as European Football Clubs and grew to more than 800 member clubs. Notably, Real Madrid remains the only major European club still outside it.
In theory, Al-Khelaifi’s influence and connections would make him a serious contender. However, a source close to the 52-year-old Qatari executive made it clear he genuinely does not want the job. As a result, he is unlikely to enter the race even if Infantino steps down.
Mattias Grafstrom (Fifa Secretary General)
Mattias Grafstrom, appointed Fifa secretary general in May 2024, is a rising figure inside Fifa’s corridors of power. He became Infantino’s chief of staff shortly after his 2016 election and has remained close to him ever since.
Multi-lingual and highly visible throughout the recent World Cup, Grafstrom has the experience to lead Fifa. However, his close ties to Infantino could work against him. There is also a broader feeling in football politics that Fifa’s next president should come from outside Europe, which could limit his chances further.
What Happens Next in the Fifa Presidential Race
Fifa’s next president, whether Infantino or a successor, will be officially confirmed at the organisation’s 77th Congress in Morocco next March. Any candidate hoping to challenge for the role must submit their name by 18 November.
Until then, the football world will watch closely. Will more national associations follow Uefa’s lead and withdraw support? Or will Infantino steady the ship in time for the vote?
Key Takeaways
Gianni Infantino’s position as FIFA president is facing its most serious test since he took office in 2016. A scrapped plan to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investors triggered fierce backlash from UEFA, Concacaf, and the AFC. A key advisor resigned, and even FIFA’s own chief operating officer criticised the process.
Still, Fifa’s political structure means Infantino could survive if he keeps support from enough national associations. Meanwhile, names like Victor Montagliani and Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa are already being discussed as possible successors, while others like Nasser Al-Khelaifi appear uninterested in the role. The final decision arrives at Fifa’s Congress in Morocco next March, and football fans everywhere will be watching.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is Fifa president Gianni Infantino facing criticism right now?
Fifa president Gianni Infantino proposed selling stakes in Fifa competitions to private investors. The plan was widely condemned. Although he scrapped it, Uefa, Concacaf, and the AFC have since criticised his overall leadership.
2. Has Gianni Infantino resigned as Fifa president?
No. Infantino has not resigned. He remains Fifa president, though his position has become far more uncertain since the backlash began.
3. Who could replace Gianni Infantino as Fifa president?
Names in the conversation include Concacaf president Victor Montagliani, AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, and Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafstrom. However, Al-Khelaifi has reportedly ruled himself out.
4. When will Fifa’s next president be decided?
Fifa’s next presidential decision will be confirmed at the organisation’s 77th Congress in Morocco next March. Candidates must submit their names by 18 November.
5. Has any Fifa president ever been voted out of office?
Rarely. The last time a sitting Fifa president lost an election was in 1974, when Joao Havelange defeated Sir Stanley Rous. Since then, incumbents have typically run unopposed.
