Gianni Infantino’s future as FIFA president has come under intense scrutiny after the governing body’s failed attempt to sell stakes in the commercial rights of the FIFA World Cup sparked one of the biggest governance crises in football’s history. However, despite growing calls for his resignation, the Swiss-Italian appears set to remain in office for now.
The crisis erupted after FIFA unveiled plans to create FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a commercial subsidiary that would allow private investors to acquire minority stakes in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions. The proposal triggered fierce opposition from football’s major confederations, with UEFA threatening to boycott FIFA tournaments if the plan went ahead, while Concacaf, the AFC and several national associations also voiced strong concerns.
Facing mounting pressure, FIFA abandoned the proposal and Infantino called an emergency meeting with the organisation’s senior leadership in Morocco. In a letter released after the meeting, the FIFA president admitted mistakes had been made in handling the proposal and apologised for failing to properly consult member associations.
“We acknowledge mistakes were made in the process of the proposed establishment of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE),” the statement read.
“We sincerely apologise for these errors and commit to them not happening again.”
Despite speculation that the controversy could force Infantino out, FIFA’s leadership publicly backed the president following the meeting.
The statement reaffirmed “full support” for Infantino, describing him as the only official elected by FIFA’s 211 member associations and insisting the organisation remained united despite the failed proposal.
Outside FIFA, however, criticism continues to grow. Real Madrid legend Luรญs Figo has urged Infantino to resign, declaring: “Infantino must go.” Meanwhile, several national associations are reported to have withdrawn their support ahead of the FIFA presidential election in 2027, with further defections expected if confidence in the current administration continues to erode.
For now, there is no indication that Infantino will step down. With no established challenger and the backing of FIFA’s leadership, he remains the favourite to seek another term as president. However, the collapse of the World Cup sell-off proposal has left his authority weakened and raised fresh questions about FIFA’s governance ahead of the 2027 election.
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