FIFA President Gianni Infantino is set to hold an urgent meeting with top officials in Morocco on Wednesday, battling to save his presidency following the disastrous breakdown of his proposal to sell off World Cup commercial rights.
The proposal, which aimed to sell a 20% stake in a newly created commercial body to private investors for $4.2 billion, triggered widespread outrage across global football. The plan faced immediate backlash over its potential disruption to the sport’s financial structure and the involvement of a firm with personal links to US President Donald Trump. Although Infantino withdrew the plan last Friday, the concession has done little to calm a growing revolt led by European football’s governing body, UEFA.
UEFA Leads the Revolt as Support Crumbles
UEFA has publicly condemned the aborted deal, accusing Infantino of “selling the soul of the game” and declaring a complete loss of confidence in his leadership. The fallout has severely threatened Infantino’s bid for a fourth term at the upcoming FIFA Congress in Morocco this March—a reelection that was viewed as a certainty just two months ago.
Reports indicate that UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) are weighing extreme measures, including boycotts or establishing independent competitions, to pressure Infantino out of office. If 43 of FIFA’s 211 member associations submit a formal written request, an Extraordinary Congress could be triggered to force a leadership vote before March.
The pressure is also mounting internally from Infantino’s own executive team:
Internal Backlash: FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom sent a memo to staff describing the abandoned deal as a “sad and reproachable series of events,” emphasizing that the institution must outlast individual leaders.
Executive Distancing: Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour publicly labeled the scheme “the project of one person” and claimed staff were “deceived.”
High-Profile Resignations: Senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned in protest last week, while Chief of Global Football Development Arsène Wenger distanced himself from the draft, calling its withdrawal “absolutely necessary.”
Battle for the Votes: Africa and Smaller Nations Hold the Key
Infantino has spent the past week building his defense from Morocco, a co-host for the 2030 World Cup, whose national association has reaffirmed its backing. To survive the crisis, Infantino is relying heavily on support outside football’s traditional European heartlands.
The original commercial deal had promised member associations direct payouts ranging from $20 million to $40 million. While several African administrators and Asian nations—including Qatar, Kuwait, and Indonesia—have pledged continued support, confederations are split. The Oceania Football Confederation will meet next week to determine its unified position.
Meanwhile, critics are speaking out openly. Jordan FA President Prince Ali bin Hussein, a former FIFA presidential candidate, publicly accused the governing body of attempting to leverage assistance in exchange for campaign endorsements.
Despite the intense scrutiny, Infantino retains one major political advantage ahead of the March vote: no single challenger has yet emerged to formally run against him for the presidency.
