FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s ambitious $4.2 billion World Cup profit‑sharing scheme has ignited a firestorm among soccer’s governing bodies, drawing sharp criticism for its lack of transparency and its potential impact on smaller member nations.
Opposition mounts
UEFA and a coalition of member federations, including those from the AFC and CONCACAF, have publicly withdrawn their backing and called for Infantino’s resignation, citing concerns over the plan’s financial opacity and its perceived favoritism toward private investors.
Electoral hurdles
Infantino now faces a decisive vote in March 2027, needing more than half of FIFA’s 211 member associations to secure a second term, a threshold that appears increasingly unattainable amid the growing dissent.
Future implications
Norwegian soccer federation president Lise Klaveness was among the first to demand his resignation, while CONCACAF leader Victor Montagliani warned that Infantino’s scheduled visits to the Dominican Republic and Vietnam would be viewed as a breach of diplomatic protocol. The upcoming FIFA Under‑20 Women’s World Cup in Poland and a UEFA executive committee meeting in Thessaloniki are being watched closely, as they may further shape the political landscape surrounding Infantino’s candidacy. Meanwhile, European Football Clubs leader Nasser al‑Khelaifi, who continues to support Infantino, is involved in discussions over a separate $2 billion joint venture that could influence the federation’s financial outlook.