Infantino faces FIFA council revolt over World Cup deal
FIFA president Gianni Infantino faces a leadership challenge from European and North American allies after a secret plan to sell a stake in the World Cup collapsed, raising serious questions about the governance of football's most lucrative asset.
A coalition of FIFA council members is attempting to force an extraordinary general meeting that could escalate into a direct leadership challenge against Gianni Infantino. The rebellion was already gathering momentum over a political dispute before the emergence of a secretly proposed sale of a 20% stake in a new World Cup operating company.
Infantino abandoned the plan to sell the stake to Thrive Capital, an investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner, in the early hours of Saturday morning. The sudden withdrawal followed swift condemnation from UEFA, the North and Central American confederation Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation. The secretive attempt to offload a portion of football's most valuable commercial asset without broader council approval triggered immediate alarm over FIFA's corporate governance.
The financial controversy amplified existing unrest regarding FIFA's institutional independence. Council members had spent weeks demanding an external review into the governing body's decision to lift Folarin Balogun’s suspension during the World Cup, a move influenced by multiple phone calls from Donald Trump. FIFA has insisted its ethics committee acted independently and followed due process, but it has yet to publish a written report on the hearing.
The Norwegian FA has formally complained to the International Olympic Committee, alleging FIFA breached rules on political neutrality. In response, dissident council members had been preparing to demand Infantino’s resignation if he blocked an independent investigation. Under FIFA rules, 19 of the 37 council members can trigger an extraordinary general meeting, and the rebels had already secured double-digit support before the Thrive Capital proposal became public.
Securing the required 19 votes presents a significant geographic hurdle. Europe and North America combine for just 14 council seats, meaning the dissidents require decisive backing from Asia to force a meeting. While the Asian Football Confederation condemned the World Cup investment plan, its willingness to support a full leadership change remains unclear. The Confederation of African Football, South American body Conmebol, and the Qatar Football Association have all declared their support for Infantino.
Qatar’s public endorsement effectively ends any prospect of a rival candidacy from Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi. The focus now shifts to whether Concacaf president Victor Montagliani or Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa of the Asian Football Confederation will step forward. Infantino has collected over 200 endorsement letters for re-election, but those are revocable. Alternatively, 43 member associations could submit letters to trigger an emergency congress and a vote of no confidence before the November 18 candidate deadline.
