UEFA And CONCACAF Withdraw Confidence In FIFA President Gianni Infantino

Infantino faces unprecedented pressure ahead of 2027 FIFA election

FIFA Turmoil: Infantino loses support of UEFA, CONCACAF over World Cup deal. England to follow Wales in dropping backing for Infantino re-election.

Infantino re-election bid complicated after stake sale backlash...

The English FA is set to follow Wales and pull its backing for FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s re-election, according to a source familiar with the situation on Monday. The move comes amid growing backlash over his scrapped plan to sell a stake in the World Cup.

FIFA had aimed to raise up to $4.2 billion from private investors by selling about a 20% stake in a new company that would run tournaments including the World Cup. The proposal collapsed on Friday after strong opposition from key stakeholders.

With the proposal dropped, focus has shifted to the fallout for Infantino. His campaign for another term as FIFA president from 2027 to 2031 is now under greater pressure after the failed plan.

Wales led the way earlier, becoming the first national federation to officially pull its support for Infantino.

“The Football Association of Wales hereby confirms its withdrawal of support for the candidature of Mr Gianni Infantino, for re-election as FIFA President for the 2027 to 2031 term,” the Welsh FA said in a statement.

“The recent failures in good governance, processes, leadership, values, stakeholder management, communications and sound judgement have led ⁠us to a position where Mr Infantino has lost the confidence of the FAW to remain at the helm of world football.

“Failing to put the best interests of football first is a failure we cannot accept.”

Infantino Faces Mounting Pressure Over Failed World Cup Deal

Infantino is facing the strongest pressure of his tenure after UEFA and CONCACAF both said Saturday they no longer have confidence in his leadership.

UEFA, which spearheaded the pushback against Infantino’s World Cup stake plan and praised its abandonment, declined to confirm reports it is preparing legal action against FIFA. 

The European body did say it issued a document preservation order, a move that prevents emails, files, and other records from being deleted ahead of a potential investigation.

🚨 The Welsh FA have withdrawn their support for Gianni Infantino.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

“The Football Association of Wales hereby confirms its withdrawal of support for the candidature of Mr Gianni Infantino, for re-election as FIFA President for the 2027–2031 term.

“The recent failures in good… pic.twitter.com/H15W0AWvYq

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) August 3, 2026

Infantino announced in April that he plans to run for a fourth term as FIFA president. He took over from fellow Swiss Sepp Blatter in 2016 and has since been re-elected unopposed twice.

What looked like a guaranteed re-election for 2027-2031 now looks less certain. Experts told Reuters the collapse of the proposal has laid bare frustration among FIFA members and could make his bid tougher ahead of the Congress in Morocco in March.