As FIFA leaders gathered in Morocco on Wednesday ahead of the organization’s next presidential election, the meeting quickly became about more than just football. Instead, it highlighted growing divisions within world football, as several major confederations openly questioned FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s leadership following the controversial proposed sale of commercial rights for future FIFA World Cups.
Here’s a breakdown of the biggest takeaways from the meeting.
UEFA and CONCACAF Call for Governance Review
The strongest criticism had come from UEFA and the North American confederation CONCACAF, both of which have called for a review of FIFA’s governance.
UEFA said the current leadership has damaged confidence across world football, writing in a statement shared on X:
The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) also reportedly joined the growing opposition, adding further pressure on Infantino.
Infantino Apologizes to FIFA Members
FIFA confirmed that Infantino has sent written apologies to the FIFA Council and all 211 member associations after failing to consult them over the proposed sale of World Cup commercial rights.
Despite the backlash, FIFA said Infantino continues to have the full support of his leadership team.
Morocco was Reportedly Asked to Back Infantino
According to The Times, Infantino has sought the support of the Moroccan Football Federation as the crisis unfolds.
The report claims he offered to stage the 2030 FIFA World Cup final at Casablanca’s new Hassan II Stadium if Morocco backed him. If that were to happen, Spain and Portugal, Morocco’s fellow 2030 co-hosts, would reportedly miss out on hosting the tournament’s final.
A FIFA spokesperson later dismissed the report saying:
It is false and misleading to claim the FIFA president has made any promise in relation to hosting the FIFA World Cup 2030 final
What Could Happen Next?
Attention now turns to Infantino’s critics, who must decide how they want to respond.
One option would be to call an emergency FIFA Council meeting or an emergency FIFA Congress and push for a vote of no confidence against the FIFA president.
If they choose not to pursue that route, they have until November 18 to nominate at least one challenger for FIFA’s next presidential election, which is scheduled to take place in Rabat next March.
Infantino Still Holds One Major Advantage
Despite the mounting criticism, Infantino still has one thing working in his favor: there is currently no clear rival candidate preparing to challenge him.
Without a strong opponent emerging before the March election in Rabat, the FIFA president remains in a strong position as he seeks another term that would extend his leadership through 2031, even as pressure from some of football’s biggest governing bodies continues to grow.
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