On Tuesday morning, Gianni Infantino appeared untouchable as FIFA president, occupying the most powerful position in world football.
Just days later, however, his authority has come under unprecedented pressure after it emerged that he had attempted to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investment firms—reportedly without the knowledge or approval of other senior officials.
UEFA, Infantino’s most vocal critic, responded forcefully by threatening to boycott all FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. Sensing a rare opportunity to challenge his leadership, European football’s governing body now appears determined to push for his removal. It may represent the strongest chance it has ever had to weaken his grip on power.
Yet UEFA is far from alone in its opposition.
Concacaf, a confederation that had worked closely with Infantino in planning the 2026 World Cup, called for a full review of FIFA’s leadership following the proposed investment deal. Even more damaging was the reaction from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), where several member associations that had traditionally supported Infantino also distanced themselves from him.
His difficulties deepened further when two of his closest allies—senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro and chief operating officer Kevin Lamour—left their positions, raising fresh questions about confidence in his leadership.
Although Infantino reversed course in the early hours of Saturday by abandoning the proposal, the move failed to repair the damage. UEFA responded with another strongly worded statement, declaring that it had lost confidence in his leadership.
The battle lines have now been drawn. The question is no longer just about the failed investment proposal, but whether Infantino can retain the support of enough FIFA members to remain in office—or whether this controversy will become the beginning of the end of his presidency.