Infantino Faces FIFA Power Struggle as Confederation Backlash Threatens 2027 Re-election Bid

According to The Athletic (TA), although FIFA has abandoned its plan to sell World Cup-related commercial rights, FIFA president Gianni Infantino is still facing a battle to retain his position.

At Thursday’s meeting between UEFA and CONCACAF, representatives had already begun questioning whether Infantino can remain in charge of FIFA.

Norwegian Football Federation president Lise Klaveness told VG: “My immediate impression is that he has lost a significant amount of trust. We did not support him in the previous election, and we have always been skeptical about this proposal. FIFA has achieved many positive results, but if it becomes lax on governance principles and regulations, trust can collapse very quickly.”

The controversy represents a major blow to Infantino. At the start of this week, he was still firmly in control, with the 2026 Men’s World Cup expected to generate around $15 billion in revenue for FIFA. Many within world football had assumed he would smoothly begin another term next spring, with several national associations already sending letters expressing their support.

However, after facing public opposition from several major confederations, the situation has dramatically changed. UEFA’s threat of resistance was already significant, and with CONCACAF and the AFC also moving into opposition, Infantino now faces the real possibility of losing a vote.

To make matters worse, members of his inner circle have begun distancing themselves from him, first Cordero and then Lamuor. What was initially a dispute over policy direction has now completely transformed into a battle for political survival. Infantino chose to abandon the private equity proposal in an attempt to protect his position, but challengers are already preparing to step forward, meaning the 2027 FIFA presidential election is unlikely to be a one-sided contest.

The deadline for candidate nominations is this November, and a fierce election battle appears inevitable.