Gianni Infantino Support Tracker: Who Backs Him and Who Wants Him Out of FIFA

What's happening

Gianni Infantino's grip on FIFA's presidency is facing its most serious test yet. After nearly a decade running world football's governing body, cracks are showing between the confederations that have propped him up and a growing bloc pushing back on his leadership style, his cozy relationship with political figures like Donald Trump, and questions about whether he's angling to bend FIFA's term-limit rules to stay in charge past 2027.

Who's still in his corner

Infantino has long leaned on support from CONCACAF, CAF, and several Asian federations, many of which have benefited from FIFA's expanded World Cup revenue-sharing and development funding under his watch. Smaller national federations, who rely heavily on FIFA's financial grants, tend to back the incumbent almost reflexively — it's the safest bet for keeping the money flowing.

Who's pushing back

The resistance is coming largely from UEFA and a handful of vocal South American federations, who've grown uneasy with Infantino's increasingly personalized style of leadership and his tendency to sideline FIFA's council in favor of direct deals — like the 2026 World Cup expansion to 48 teams and the controversial new Club World Cup format. There's also unease about his political optics, particularly his visible closeness with Trump ahead of the 2026 World Cup being co-hosted by the U.S.

What Infantino needs to retain power

FIFA's statutes currently cap presidents at three terms. Infantino's third term runs through 2027, and any move to change that rule would need a two-thirds majority at the FIFA Congress — a heavy lift if UEFA and South America coordinate against him. To stay in power, he'll need to keep the confederations that depend on FIFA funding firmly on his side while managing optics carefully enough that he doesn't hand critics more ammunition.

Why this matters for the sport

This isn't just palace politics. FIFA's presidency controls World Cup hosting decisions, revenue distribution, and the direction of the global game for hundreds of millions of players and fans. A contested succession — or a rule change to extend Infantino's reign — would set a precedent for how power operates in international sports governance well beyond 2026.

The bottom line

Infantino isn't in immediate danger of losing his seat, but the coalition against him is more organized than it's been in years. Watch how CONCACAF and CAF vote at the next Congress — that's the real tell on whether he cruises to another term or has to fight for it.