Three of football’s most influential national federations have publicly withdrawn their backing for Gianni Infantino as he seeks a second term as president of FIFA, a move that threatens the momentum of his re‑election campaign.
The Serbian Football Association issued a statement highlighting "serious damage to the reputation of FIFA and to Infantino himself" caused by what it described as governance and transparency failures, signaling a decisive shift away from the Swiss‑born administrator.
Sweden’s football federation, after a lengthy internal review, confirmed that it will not endorse Infantino’s candidacy, citing "recurring shortcomings in governance, transparency and management" that have eroded confidence among member associations.
A crisis of confidence
Wales became the first national federation to formally announce its withdrawal, stating that the "failures in governance, leadership and stakeholder management" displayed by Infantino have left it with no option but to distance itself from his bid.
England’s Football Association is widely expected to follow suit, a development that would further isolate Infantino at a time when he had previously been viewed as a near‑certainty for re‑election.
Infantino’s outreach to U.S. President Donald Trump also proved futile; despite multiple phone calls, the White House did not respond, underscoring the limited political leverage he retains beyond the sport’s governing bodies.
The broader fallout stems from a controversial proposal to sell a 20 percent stake in a newly structured World Cup entity, a deal that could have unlocked up to $4.2 billion. The plan collapsed under intense opposition from stakeholders who feared excessive privatization of the tournament’s revenue streams.
Both UEFA and CONCACAF have voiced their loss of confidence, with UEFA reportedly preparing legal action against FIFA over the restructuring, further complicating Infantino’s already fragile position.
The upcoming FIFA Congress in Morocco, scheduled to vote on the 2027‑2031 presidential term, is now poised to become a decisive battleground, with member nations likely to use the gathering to register their discontent.
The episode reflects a growing wave of dissatisfaction across the football community, where concerns over transparency, accountability and the commercial direction of the sport are reshaping alliances and challenging long‑standing assumptions about leadership stability.