Gianni Infantino is facing increasing opposition ahead of the 2027 FIFA presidential election, but the FIFA president has also secured important support that could strengthen his position. His relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump has become one of the most closely watched aspects of the political battle surrounding FIFA, particularly after several controversies during and after the 2026 World Cup.
Infantino has confirmed that he intends to seek a fourth and final term as FIFA president. At the same time, European football officials have become increasingly critical of his leadership, while several other regions continue to support him. Reuters reported that Infantino is currently expected to have enough backing to survive the election, although opponents are exploring ways to limit presidential powers and introduce governance reforms.
Infantino Faces Growing Opposition
The pressure on Infantino has increased significantly since the 2026 World Cup.
UEFA has become increasingly critical of the FIFA president, with several European football associations questioning decisions made during the tournament and the organization's approach to governance. On September 15, Reuters reported that the Greek Football Association president and former Germany national team director Oliver Bierhoff had publicly backed calls for leadership change.
The situation became even more significant when the French Football Federation withdrew its support for Infantino's re-election. France had previously backed his campaign but said it no longer supported him because of concerns about transparency, governance and decisions taken during and after the World Cup.
The Failed FIFA Investment Plan
One of the biggest sources of controversy has been Infantino's proposal to open part of FIFA's commercial operations to private investors.
The plan, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise, reportedly involved selling a stake worth around $20 billion in future World Cup-related commercial rights. The proposal faced strong resistance from several football confederations and national associations before FIFA eventually abandoned it.
Critics questioned why FIFA needed outside investment given the organization's significant revenues and financial reserves. French FA president Philippe Diallo also criticized what he described as a lack of consultation with member associations.
The collapse of the proposal weakened Infantino's position among some European football officials and became a central issue in the growing debate over FIFA governance.
Trump's Relationship With Infantino
Donald Trump's relationship with Infantino has added another dimension to the controversy.
The two developed a close public relationship during preparations for the 2026 World Cup, which was hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Trump publicly praised Infantino on several occasions, while Infantino also maintained close contact with the U.S. president.
FIFA's relationship with Trump became particularly visible when Infantino presented him with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize during the 2026 World Cup final draw. FIFA itself confirmed the award and described it as recognizing Trump's efforts to promote peace and bring people together.
The decision attracted criticism from campaigners who questioned whether FIFA was maintaining the political neutrality expected of the organization.
The Balogun Controversy
Another incident that intensified scrutiny involved U.S. forward Folarin Balogun.
During the World Cup, Balogun received a red card against Belgium. Trump publicly urged FIFA to reconsider the suspension, and FIFA's disciplinary system later reversed the decision.
Infantino said FIFA's judicial bodies operate independently and autonomously and that the case remained subject to the established legal process. Trump subsequently described the reversal as “brilliant.”
The incident became part of a broader debate about the relationship between political figures and FIFA's sporting institutions.
Critics argued that the episode raised questions about whether political influence could affect football decisions, while FIFA maintained that its judicial bodies function independently.
A Major Complaint Against Infantino
The criticism has also moved beyond football associations.
More than 100,000 people have reportedly signed a complaint submitted to FIFA's ethics committee concerning Infantino's conduct and his relationship with Trump. The campaign, organized by FairSquare's Reboot FIFA initiative, has accused the FIFA president of abusing his position and violating FIFA's political-neutrality principles.
The complaint references several incidents, including the FIFA Peace Prize awarded to Trump, the Balogun disciplinary controversy and the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise project.
These are allegations made by campaigners rather than established findings of wrongdoing. FIFA has rejected the broader effort to undermine Infantino and has continued to support his plans to seek another term.
Africa Provides Important Support
Despite the opposition from UEFA and several European associations, Infantino continues to have significant support in other parts of the football world.
The Confederation of African Football unanimously backed Infantino in August, providing an important boost as criticism from Europe increased.
That support matters because FIFA's presidential election is decided through votes from its member associations rather than simply through support from the largest football nations.
Infantino's relationships with African, Asian, South American and other federations have been central to his political strength since he became FIFA president in 2016.
Why Infantino Still Has a Strong Position
Reuters reported on September 10 that Infantino was expected to have enough votes to secure re-election, despite the controversies surrounding his presidency.
The report said Infantino has maintained support from several major voting blocs, including Africa, South America and Oceania. Smaller national associations have also remained important parts of his support network.
His political position therefore cannot be judged solely by the opposition coming from UEFA.
FIFA has 211 member associations, and every association has a vote in the presidential election. That structure means Infantino can potentially maintain significant electoral support even while facing substantial criticism from European football.
A Challenger Has Yet to Emerge
Another factor affecting the election is the absence of a confirmed major challenger.
Potential candidates including Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani have reportedly ruled out running. Meanwhile, Danish football executive Jesper Moller has been involved in efforts to identify an alternative candidate.
The deadline for nominations is approaching in November, meaning opponents still have time to organize an alternative campaign.
However, the lack of an established challenger has so far made it difficult for the opposition to turn criticism of Infantino into a coordinated electoral challenge.
Europe Wants Governance Changes
The debate is increasingly moving beyond the question of whether Infantino should remain president.
Opponents are also discussing ways to change FIFA's internal structure. Reuters reported that some federations are considering reforms that would increase transparency and introduce stronger checks on presidential decision-making.
This could become an important part of the election debate.
Even if Infantino remains FIFA president, pressure from European associations could result in greater scrutiny of how major commercial and sporting decisions are made.
France Breaks With Infantino
France's decision to withdraw its support was particularly significant because the French Football Federation had maintained a relationship with Infantino for years.
Philippe Diallo said the federation was concerned about the direction FIFA had taken, particularly regarding transparency, collective decision-making and the abandoned private-investment plan. He also argued that some actions surrounding the 2026 World Cup had damaged confidence in FIFA's governance.
The FFF has said it intends to participate in efforts to develop a more transparent governance model and consult experts about potential reforms.
The change illustrates how Infantino's political coalition has become more complicated since the World Cup.
Trump's Influence Remains a Major Talking Point
Trump's role remains one of the most controversial elements of the story.
The U.S. president was a major political figure surrounding the 2026 World Cup because the United States hosted the majority of the tournament's matches. His public relationship with Infantino therefore received extensive attention.
At the same time, Trump's involvement in football-related decisions has become a source of criticism from some FIFA observers.
The key question is not simply whether Trump and Infantino have a close relationship, but whether that relationship has affected FIFA's governance or decision-making. Campaigners have argued that several incidents raise concerns, while FIFA has defended its institutional processes.
The 2027 Election
Infantino is seeking a fourth and final term, with the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027.
He has already served as president since 2016, winning re-election in 2019 and again in 2023. FIFA confirmed in September that he intends to run again.
The election is therefore shaping up as a major test of FIFA's political structure.
European associations appear increasingly willing to challenge Infantino publicly, while several other confederations and national associations continue to provide support.
What the Election Could Change
The outcome of the election will determine more than simply who occupies FIFA's presidency.
The controversy surrounding Infantino has opened a wider discussion about how much authority should be concentrated in the office of the FIFA president, how commercial decisions should be approved and how member associations should participate in major policy decisions.
If Infantino retains the presidency, the pressure for governance reform is unlikely to disappear automatically.
If an alternative candidate emerges, the election could instead become a broader debate about FIFA's direction after the 2026 World Cup.
A Turning Point for FIFA
The period following the 2026 World Cup has created one of the most complicated political moments of Infantino's presidency.
On one side, he retains support from important FIFA voting blocs and has confirmed his intention to seek another term. On the other, UEFA and several European associations have become increasingly vocal in their opposition.
The failed investment proposal, the relationship with Trump, the Balogun controversy and questions about FIFA's internal governance have all contributed to the current atmosphere.
At the same time, no major challenger has yet emerged, leaving the opposition with the difficult task of converting dissatisfaction into an organized electoral campaign.
Overall
Gianni Infantino is preparing to seek a fourth and final term as FIFA president while facing growing criticism from European football authorities. France has withdrawn its support, UEFA-backed opposition is becoming more visible and campaigners have filed complaints over Infantino's conduct and his relationship with Donald Trump.
Despite that pressure, Infantino continues to have substantial support among FIFA's global membership. Reuters reported that he currently appears to have enough backing to survive the 2027 election, while the lack of a confirmed major challenger has complicated efforts to replace him.
The coming months will therefore focus not only on the presidential race but also on FIFA's governance. With nominations due later this year and the election scheduled for March 2027, Infantino's relationship with global football associations—and the continuing debate over his ties to Trump—will remain central to the organization’s future.
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