FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing mounting opposition ahead of the 2027 FIFA presidential election, with several European football associations withdrawing their support and raising concerns over the governing body’s leadership, transparency, and governance.
The Serbian Football Association and the Swedish Football Association are the latest to distance themselves from Infantino’s bid for a fourth term. They join the English Football Association (FA), the Football Association of Wales, and UEFA, all of which have publicly expressed reservations about his leadership.
The growing dissent has intensified speculation over Infantino’s political standing within world football and cast uncertainty over what had previously been expected to be another straightforward re-election campaign.
Failed investment plan sparks backlash
The latest wave of opposition follows FIFA’s decision to abandon plans to sell a stake in the commercial rights of its competitions, including the FIFA World Cup.
The proposal sought to raise up to $4.2 billion by selling approximately 20% of a newly created company that would manage FIFA’s commercial rights. However, the plan was dropped after facing strong resistance from several member associations and clubs, prompting renewed scrutiny of FIFA’s governance and decision-making processes.
Federations cite governance concerns
In a statement, the Serbian Football Association said it had reconsidered its position after previously backing Infantino in a letter sent on May 25.
“The recent events, which have caused significant damage to the image and reputation of both FIFA and its president, made withdrawing our support the only logical and reasonable decision,” the federation said.
The Swedish Football Association likewise announced, following an extraordinary board meeting, that it no longer supported Infantino’s candidacy. The federation cited repeated concerns over FIFA’s governance, transparency, and management, saying it had lost confidence in his leadership.
The English FA backed UEFA’s call for a comprehensive review of FIFA’s governance, arguing that world football should be administered transparently and in the long-term interests of FIFA’s 211 member associations.
The Football Association of Wales, one of the first federations to withdraw its backing, also criticized FIFA’s failed commercial rights proposal, stating that the interests of football should take precedence over financial considerations.
Infantino’s future
Infantino announced in April that he would seek a fourth term as FIFA president. He has led world football’s governing body since 2016, succeeding Sepp Blatter, and has twice been re-elected unopposed.
The decisions by Serbia, Sweden, Wales, the English FA, and UEFA represent the first coordinated public challenge to his re-election campaign ahead of the 2027 FIFA Congress, which is scheduled to take place in Rabat next March.
Although Infantino still enjoys broad support from many member associations, the growing criticism from influential European football bodies has introduced a level of uncertainty not seen in his previous campaigns, leaving his political future at FIFA increasingly open to question.
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