Growing opposition to FIFA president Gianni Infantino has intensified after the football associations of England and Wales moved to withdraw their backing for his bid to secure another term in office.
The decision comes only days after a controversial proposal to sell a stake in FIFA’s flagship competitions collapsed under widespread international resistance, placing the Swiss administrator under mounting pressure ahead of the next presidential election.
England Follows Wales in Revoking Support
The Football Association (FA) is preparing to formally notify Gianni Infantino that it no longer supports his campaign for re-election as FIFA president.
The move follows an earlier public statement in which the English governing body declared it had lost confidence in his leadership and called for reforms at the highest level of world football.
Wales had already become the first national association to officially withdraw its endorsement, making a public declaration that it no longer believed Infantino was the right person to lead FIFA into the next presidential term.
Although withdrawing letters of support does not directly alter the election process, it sends a clear political message that confidence in the FIFA president has significantly weakened among influential football nations.
Failed World Cup Investment Proposal Sparks Fallout
The latest crisis was triggered after plans emerged to sell a multi-billion-pound stake in the FIFA World Cup and other major competitions to private investors.
The proposal generated immediate criticism from football authorities, with concerns raised about the commercialization of the sport’s most prestigious tournaments.
Facing strong opposition from UEFA, the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), FIFA ultimately abandoned the investment strategy.
The controversy has become a defining issue in the debate over Infantino’s leadership, with many associations questioning both the decision-making process and the broader direction of the organization.
Wales Lists Governance Failures Behind Decision
In its official statement, the Football Association of Wales explained that its decision was based on what it described as repeated failures in governance, leadership, communication, stakeholder engagement and judgement.
The Welsh governing body argued that FIFA’s leadership had failed to prioritize the long-term interests of football, concluding that it could no longer support Infantino’s continued tenure as president.
The statement represents one of the strongest public criticisms of the FIFA chief from a national football association since the controversy began.
Election Timeline Approaches Amid Political Pressure
Despite the growing backlash, reports earlier this year indicated that the overwhelming majority of FIFA’s 211 member associations had initially endorsed Infantino’s candidacy for another four-year term.
Official nominations for the presidency are due by November 18, with delegates scheduled to elect FIFA’s next president during the organization’s congress in March.
While England and Wales have now withdrawn their endorsements, the election outcome will ultimately depend on support across FIFA’s global membership rather than backing from individual European associations alone.
Leadership Faces Increasing Internal and External Criticism
Infantino, who became FIFA president in 2016 after succeeding Sepp Blatter, is seeking a fourth term in office. However, recent events have significantly weakened his standing.
The proposed investment plan attracted criticism from political figures and football executives alike, while two senior figures within FIFA distanced themselves from the initiative.
Senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned during the controversy, and chief operating officer Kevin Lamour publicly criticized the proposal.
The episode has added to a series of controversies that have overshadowed Infantino’s administration in recent months.
Global Support Remains Divided
UEFA and CONCACAF have openly called for Infantino to step aside, but their efforts face significant obstacles because they do not command enough votes on their own to remove the FIFA president.
Several national associations, including Kuwait, Qatar, Sri Lanka and Lebanon, have publicly reaffirmed their confidence in his leadership, helping maintain support across parts of Asia and the Middle East.
Infantino is also believed to retain substantial backing from African member associations, while South American nations are widely expected to support his candidacy.
Attention is now focused on the Asian Football Confederation, whose member associations could play a decisive role if opposition to Infantino continues to grow.
Financial Incentives Add Another Layer to Debate
As debate over FIFA’s future intensified, Infantino reportedly wrote to member associations outlining potential financial benefits linked to his commercial strategy.
According to reports, each national association stood to receive around £30 million if plans to sell stakes in FIFA’s major competitions had proceeded.
The proposal has become a focal point of criticism, with opponents arguing that financial incentives should not outweigh concerns about governance, transparency and the long-term stewardship of world football.
