Infantino on the Brink? Who Might Replace Him If He Goes?
Fifa president Gianni Infantino faces mounting pressure after threats of boycotts and harsh criticism from global football bodies, sparking speculation over potential successors.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Gianni Infantino faces intense pressure from Uefa and regional football confederations.
- Former FA chairman David Bernstein notes that Fifa operates differently from normal organisations.
- Key figures like Victor Montagliani and Sheikh Salman emerge as potential successors.
- Infantino's political future hinges on the backing of national football associations.
Life moves fast for Fifa president Gianni Infantino. Earlier this month, he was zig-zagging across the United States in a private jet as the World Cup reached its climax, culminating on 19 July when he joined US President Donald Trump to hand the trophy over to Spain.
Less than two weeks later, Infantino finds himself isolated. Condemned by UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and criticized by fans, he now faces a threatened boycott of Fifa competitions by European governing body Uefa, alongside strong pushback from Concacaf and the AFC.
Sources indicate that the vast majority of Concacaf members have rejected Infantino's plans and lost faith in his leadership. Adding to the turmoil, Carlos Cordeiro, special advisor to Infantino and senior advisor to the White House Task Force on the 2026 World Cup, has officially resigned.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The escalating friction between Fifa and major continental confederations like Uefa and Concacaf marks a critical juncture in global sports politics. Because Fifa's governance structure relies heavily on the votes of national associations, losing the confidence of regional leadership poses a severe threat to any sitting president's tenure.
If this marks the beginning of the end for Infantino, the question remains: who takes over? Speaking to BBC Sport, former Football Association chairman David Bernstein noted that while standard organizations would dismiss a leader facing such magnitude of pushback, Fifa operates under different rules.
"In a normal organisation, if he has to back down due to something of this magnitude he'd probably be shown the door. But Fifa is not a normal organisation. If he has the support of enough of the national associations, he will continue."
David Bernstein
Infantino has served as Fifa president since 2016, initially elected by defeating Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman al-Khalifa 115 votes to 88 to clean up corruption scandals following Sepp Blatter's resignation. He has since twice been re-elected unopposed.
Potential candidates to succeed him include Concacaf president Victor Montagliani, who played a pivotal role in the 2026 World Cup preparations; AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa; PSG president and European Football Clubs chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi; and Mattias Grafstrom, who was appointed Fifa secretary general in May 2024.
Source: BBC Sport
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