A crisis of confidence at FIFA
Wales became the first national federation to formally withdraw its support for Gianni Infantino, citing failures in governance, leadership and stakeholder management. Serbia and Sweden soon followed, expressing similar concerns over transparency and the direction of FIFA. England’s Football Association is expected to join the dissent before the upcoming FIFA Congress in Morocco.
The backlash stems from a controversial proposal to sell a 20 % stake in a new World Cup oversight entity to private investors, a move that would have unlocked up to $4.2 billion. The plan collapsed under fierce resistance from member associations, who warned that it threatened the sport’s integrity.
The stalled private‑investment plan
Infantino’s attempt to modernise FIFA’s revenue streams included courting political allies, but repeated efforts to reach U.S. President Donald Trump were unsuccessful. A document‑preservation order from UEFA now signals the possibility of legal action against FIFA over the failed initiative.
The growing dissent casts doubt on Infantino’s bid for a second term that was previously expected to be unopposed, raising questions about his ability to secure the necessary support before the March congress.