FIFA’s Infantino Scraps World Cup Investment Plan. But Is It Too Little, Too Late?

Infantino was originally expected to easily retain his position at the helm of FIFA in March 2027. 

Now, with public calls for review into his leadership, potential rivals may feel emboldened.

“FIFA is full of sharks, and there’s no question that many of them can smell blood. Infantino’s election in 2027, which seemed like a sure bet only a few days ago, is now an open question,” Boykoff says.

Challengers for his role must submit their candidacies by Nov. 18, and there has already been some speculation as to who might make a bid. 

Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), was defeated by Infantino in 2016, the current administrator’s first term, but he could return a decade later as a frontrunner. He called Infantino’s investment proposal and his failure to consult AFC on it “totally unacceptable,” putting the two publicly at odds.