Gianni Infantino is facing the biggest crisis of his time as FIFA president. His attempt to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors has caused strong opposition and seriously damaged his reputation just two weeks after the end of the 2026 World Cup. The project, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise, aimed to create a commercial company to manage World Cup rights and other competitions. FIFA planned to sell about 20% of this company to private funds in a deal valued at around $20 billion. The idea was met with immediate and widespread rejection.

UEFA, the European confederation, declared it had lost confidence in Infantino and threatened to boycott future FIFA competitions if the plan was not withdrawn. CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation also criticized the lack of consultation and transparency. Even senior FIFA officials resigned or publicly questioned the initiative.

Infantino eventually withdrew the project, admitting it had created divisions. However, the damage was already done. Critics say the plan was developed in a secretive way and put money ahead of the interests of football. His close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump and earlier controversies, such as the Folarin Balogun case, have added to the criticism of his leadership style.

Impact on Reputation and the 2027 Re-Election

Before this crisis, Infantino looked almost certain to win a fourth term at the FIFA Congress planned for March 2027 in Morocco. He had formal support from more than 200 national federations and key confederations including CAF (Africa), AFC (Asia), and CONMEBOL (South America).

The situation has now changed. Several European federations and some from other regions are considering withdrawing their support. There are calls for him to resign or for an emergency meeting of the FIFA Council. Although no clear rival has yet appeared, analysts believe candidates could emerge before the nomination deadline in November 2026.

Infantino still holds important support outside Europe and controls a funding network that benefits many federations. However, his image as the successful manager of the most lucrative World Cup in history has been damaged. The perception that he prioritizes commercial interests and political relationships over good governance has weakened his position.

The football world is watching closely. This crisis affects not only Infantino but also the credibility of FIFA as an institution. The coming months will be key in deciding whether the president can recover or if his time in office ends earlier than expected.