Infantino appears set to remain FIFA president as dispute over his powers deepens
On Sept. 24, 2026, Gianni Infantino looked likely to stay on as president of FIFA after efforts to force him out lost momentum, while debates over the scope of his authority at world soccer's governing body intensified, Reuters reported.
The crisis began after Infantino's proposal to sell a 20% stake in FIFA's commercial rights to private investors was abandoned in July following opposition from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF. In a letter to the FIFA Council and the presidents of all 211 member associations this week, Infantino proposed that the Council consider commissioning an independent external review of FIFA's governance framework for major strategic initiatives, called for consultations with confederations and associations, and said he remained fully committed to leading FIFA. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin dismissed the move in a video address to the Portugal Football Summit, saying: "The project that shattered the unity of world football may be abolished, but the trust it broke has not returned," and adding, "Trust in our sport rests on three pillars: unity, transparency, and governance that serves the many, not the few." Ceferin also said, "Football is not for sale."
Senior figures in world football told Reuters the battle over succession has receded and the dispute is shifting to how much power Infantino can exercise if he stays. "What is clear now ... is that he's going nowhere," a senior world football executive told Reuters. "A hot-cold war is a very real problem for FIFA and for world football." A veteran international sports executive described Infantino as "hanging on", adding: "You would have effectively a civil war within the governance which I cannot recall in a sports body before." "Unprecedented," the executive said.
Officials outlined two main possible outcomes: a governance compromise that leaves Infantino in office but reduces presidential authority, or a prolonged period of repeated confrontation. One senior world football executive said Infantino's governance proposals represented the "bare minimum" needed for him to remain in office and questioned whether he would accept more substantial changes. The same executive warned the scale of any concession would depend on "how much Infantino is willing to cede" and how much his opponents are prepared to press to remove power.
If no compromise is reached, stakeholders could contest major initiatives across competitions, finance and the international calendar, senior officials said. The world football executive listed areas of potential conflict including fights with clubs over the Club World Cup, disputes over financial distributions and player release, player representatives challenging the calendar, national associations obstructing initiatives, and confederations contesting attempts to expand or reshape FIFA competitions. "Maybe it seems like we're boiling down to two options now," the executive said. "One, a compromise where Gianni gives up some of his power and there are some new bodies that are created or, two, a permanent hot-cold war where all the stakeholders just fight every issue."
Some officials say Infantino's position has strengthened since the backlash peaked and that he is rebuilding support ahead of the March election. A national association president who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity said opponents missed their best opportunity and expects Infantino to use a succession of upcoming meetings at tournaments, congresses and confederation events, "including several gatherings in Africa," to maintain backing through to the FIFA presidential election in March 2027. The political stakes are also highlighted by a proposal from Ceferin and CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani for FIFA to distribute at least $10 million from its reserves to each of its 211 member associations during the next financial cycle, a sum the article said could be transformative for many associations heavily reliant on FIFA funding.
If Infantino is re-elected, the national association president told Reuters he believes some federations that have opposed him may become less hostile rather than sustain prolonged confrontation, meaning a permanent "cold war" is not inevitable and the outcome of the March 2027 presidential election will be pivotal for FIFA's governance and future initiatives.
