On July 19, 2026, FIFA President Gianni Infantino was riding high. Having just crowned Spain as the 2026 World Cup winners, he was preparing to coast through an upcoming election process at a FIFA congress in Rabat, Morocco, where he was expected to run unopposed for his final term.
However, a sudden and massive backlash has shattered his secure grip on the global game. The controversy centers on the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a plan almost single-handedly pushed by Infantino that proposed selling a minority stake of the men’s and women’s World Cups to a private entity to manage their commercial interests.
Though the FFE project has since been permanently abandoned, the damage is done. Infantino now faces intense fire from multiple countries, confederations, and influential powerbrokers.
With the FIFA presidential elections set for March 2027, and a tight November 18 deadline for candidates to declare their proposals, a quiet rebellion is brewing. Below are the key figures who could challenge Infantino for the top job in world soccer.
1. Victor Montagliani (Concacaf President)
Victor Montagliani, 60, is widely considered the leading candidate to replace Infantino should he face a challenge in the March election. The Canadian executive has served as Concacaf president since 2016, taking over the federation when it was reeling from corruption charges against its past two presidents.
The Case For Montagliani: He has a highly respected track record, having steadied Concacaf, launched the Canadian Premier League, and overseen Canada’s successful hosting of the 2015 Women’s World Cup. He is also credited with bringing the men’s World Cup to Canada. Coming from outside of Europe, he is viewed as a unifying figure around whom member nations from across the globe could rally.
The Roadblocks: Montagliani is not without controversy. He was the director of Canada’s national teams in 2008 when sexual assault allegations were made against former coach Bob Birarda (who was jailed in 2022); former players have criticized Montagliani’s handling of the matter. He has also faced criticism for defending a controversial media and marketing rights agreement during his time as Canadian Soccer Association president, which led to player strikes and a massive lawsuit.
2. Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa (AFC President)
When UEFA led the charge against Infantino’s World Cup stake sale, they were joined by a damning voice from Asia. Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), signed an AFC letter accusing FIFA of “fundamental weaknesses” in its decision-making and consultation processes.
The Case For Al Khalifa: A member of the Bahraini royal family, Al Khalifa has over 30 years of experience as a soccer executive. He can point to the massive growth of the AFC Champions League Elite, his advocacy for regional women’s football, and his firm stance against expanding the men’s World Cup to a 64-team format.
The Roadblocks: His bid would face severe scrutiny regarding alleged human rights abuses tied to the Bahraini royal family during the 2011 Arab Spring.
3. Nasser Al-Khelaifi (PSG President)
Starting his career as a professional tennis player, Nasser Al-Khelaifi is now one of the most powerful figures in world sports. As head of Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) and beIN Media Group, he has guided Paris Saint-Germain to 12 Ligue 1 titles and the last two Champions League titles.
The Case For Al-Khelaifi: He gained immense political capital in European soccer by rejecting the European Super League in 2021, helping lead the resistance, and subsequently becoming head of the European Clubs Association (ECA).
The Roadblocks: Al-Khelaifi is reportedly not interested in the FIFA presidency. Additionally, his potential candidacy is complicated by the fact that the Qatar Football Association has backed Infantino. He also faces ongoing criticism regarding conflicts of interest, as he shapes the Champions League format via the ECA while his broadcast network, beIN, acts as a primary media partner.
Other Names to Watch
Aleksander Čeferin (UEFA President): Infantino’s most outspoken critic, Čeferin recently boycotted the World Cup final in protest over a controversial FIFA disciplinary decision. While he successfully defeated the European Super League proposal, his own expansion and format changes to the Champions League have sparked their own share of controversy.
Lise Klaveness (Norwegian FA President): Under Klaveness, a former national player turned lawyer, Norway has led the vocal resistance to FIFA. Her fierce stance against Infantino has even won the praise of former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who publicly stated “it is time” for FIFA to have its first female president and that Klaveness deserves the utmost respect.
Mattias Grafström (FIFA Secretary General): In a shocking twist, Infantino’s relationship with his own secretary general has reportedly broken down over the FFE debacle. Following the collapse of the project, Grafström emailed staff, pointedly stating that “individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go” while the institution must carry on. As FIFA’s second-most-senior figure, a bid from within the organization is not out of the question.
