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Gianni Infantino is reportedly seeking support from senior United States officials as calls for his removal from FIFA continue to intensify.
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The FIFA president has come under heavy pressure following the collapse of his controversial World Cup commercial rights proposal.
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Football stakeholders across the globe are now openly questioning whether Infantino can survive the biggest crisis of his presidency.
August 3, (THEWILL) — Gianni Infantino’s grip on the FIFA presidency is facing its biggest test yet after reports emerged that he is seeking support from senior officials in the United States as pressure mounts over his failed World Cup commercial rights proposal.
According to reports, the FIFA president is expected to hold talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as he attempts to steady his position following widespread backlash against his plan to create FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a new commercial entity that would have allowed outside investors to acquire minority stakes in FIFA competitions, including the World Cup.
The proposal, which reportedly involved investment interest from Thrive Capital, a firm linked to Josh Kushner, triggered fierce opposition from football governing bodies, national associations, and senior figures within the sport before FIFA eventually abandoned the project.
The failed initiative has since sparked one of the most significant internal crises of Infantino’s decade-long leadership.
Sources familiar with the situation claim the FIFA president has struggled to rally influential allies since shelving the proposal, with reports suggesting he has sought backing from key figures in Washington amid growing uncertainty over his future.
The controversy has also exposed growing divisions within FIFA’s leadership.
Several senior officials are said to have been caught off guard by the proposal, with criticism emerging from inside football’s governing body itself.
Reports have indicated that some executives felt excluded from discussions surrounding the investment plan, while others questioned both the timing and transparency of the process.
Outside FIFA, opposition has been even stronger.
UEFA led widespread resistance to the proposal, warning that football’s biggest competitions should not be opened to private investment.
The backlash eventually forced FIFA into a dramatic reversal, abandoning the project before member associations could vote on it.
Although the proposal has been withdrawn, the political fallout continues to grow.
Football administrators across different confederations are now questioning Infantino’s leadership, while speculation continues over whether enough member associations could eventually unite to challenge his presidency.
Under FIFA’s statutes, member associations have mechanisms to seek leadership changes, while Infantino is also scheduled to face re-election next year, creating another potential test of his authority.
Despite the mounting criticism, Infantino has not publicly indicated any intention to step aside.
For now, the FIFA president remains in office, but with confidence in his leadership under increasing scrutiny, the coming months could determine whether he survives the most serious challenge of his tenure or whether world football prepares for a new era at the top.
