Infantino under fire from UEFA, Concacaf, AFC
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- Gianni Infantino faced condemnation from UEFA, Concacaf, and AFC over his FIFA governance approach, with the AFC citing 'fundamental weaknesses' in consultation and decision-making processes.
- Concacaf members overwhelmingly expressed loss of faith in Infantino’s leadership, coinciding with the resignation of Carlos Cordeiro, special advisor to Infantino and White House Task Force senior advisor for the 2026 World Cup.
- Kevin Lamour, FIFA’s chief operating officer, stated that FIFA’s administration was 'deceived' about the project tied to Cordeiro’s role, amplifying internal scrutiny of Infantino’s management.
- Victor Montagliani, Concacaf president, emerged as a potential successor, having built political capital through the 2026 World Cup planning and rejecting divisive proposals like biennial World Cups.
- Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, AFC president, formally criticized Infantino’s handling of FIFA affairs while leading a 46-member confederation increasingly skeptical of centralized decision-making.
- Nasser Al-Khelaifi, chair of European Football Clubs, is seen as a possible challenger but sources close to him insist he 'genuinely, genuinely, genuinely doesn't want the job.'
- FIFA's 77th Congress in Morocco next March will confirm the next president, with candidacy submissions due by 18 November — a deadline now looming amid calls for reform.
Why it matters: Infantino retains structural support through re-election endorsements, but the coordinated pushback from three continental federations — representing Europe, Asia, and North/Central America — marks an unprecedented institutional challenge. If even one major bloc withdraws backing, the 2026 World Cup’s shadow governance could shift power before the tournament begins.
