Gianni Infantino’s once-unshakable grip on FIFA has come under its biggest test in years after a controversial proposal to bring private investment into the organisation’s flagship competitions collapsed under widespread opposition.
The backlash has left the FIFA president facing mounting political pressure just months before the governing body’s presidential election, raising fresh questions over whether he will face a serious challenger for the first time in nearly a decade.
Infantino, 56, had been expected to secure a fourth and final term at FIFA’s Congress in Rabat next March without opposition. That assumption has now been thrown into doubt after football confederations from Europe, Asia and North America criticised his leadership following the now-withdrawn investment proposal.
Although FIFA abandoned the plan only days after unveiling it, criticism has continued, with some football leaders calling for Infantino to step aside.
The focus has now shifted to whether football’s governing bodies can unite behind a single candidate before nominations close on November 18.
Victor Montagliani emerges as leading contender
Among the names attracting the most attention is Victor Montagliani, the president of CONCACAF, the confederation representing North and Central America and the Caribbean.
A long-time FIFA vice-president and previously regarded as a close ally of Infantino, Montagliani has distanced himself from the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal. CONCACAF unanimously rejected the initiative and called for what it described as “a comprehensive reckoning with this presidency.”
His stance has fuelled speculation that he could enter the race should support continue to shift away from Infantino.
Montagliani has led CONCACAF since 2016, overseeing a period of stability after the confederation was shaken by the FIFA corruption scandal that engulfed several former football officials.
The Canadian administrator, who previously worked as a flight attendant before building a career in the insurance industry, has earned a reputation for consensus-building and organisational reform. He also heads into this period following the successful staging of the 2026 FIFA World Cup by Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Pressure could intensify
Opponents of Infantino also have other options before the election.
Under FIFA’s statutes, an emergency meeting of the FIFA Council can be convened if at least 19 of its 37 members support such a move. UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF together control 21 seats, giving them the numbers required if they act collectively.
A more dramatic possibility would be an extraordinary FIFA Congress to consider a vote of no confidence. Such a meeting would require written backing from at least 20 per cent of FIFA’s 211 member associations.
So far, only Wales, Finland, Sweden and Serbia have publicly withdrawn their support for Infantino, while Morocco has remained among the few national associations to openly back the FIFA president.
Past controversy remains part of the picture
While Montagliani is viewed by many as the strongest alternative, his record has also faced scrutiny.
Questions have previously been raised over Canada Soccer’s handling of former coach Bob Birarda, who later received a prison sentence for sexual assault offences.
Montagliani, who served as a vice-president of Canada Soccer during that period, has consistently denied allegations that complaints were deliberately ignored.
However, an independent review commissioned by Canada Soccer in 2022 concluded that the organisation’s failure to dismiss Birarda earlier allowed him to continue working with young players, exposing others to potential harm.
Despite that criticism, Montagliani continues to enjoy significant support within international football and is widely regarded as an experienced administrator capable of leading FIFA through a turbulent period.
For now, Infantino remains in office, but the political landscape inside world football appears more uncertain than at any point since he first became FIFA president in 2016. Whether the growing opposition can unite behind a single candidate may determine whether next year’s election becomes the most closely contested in modern FIFA history.
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