When Gianni Infantino might step down from FIFA as pressure builds after World Cup plan doesn’t work out
Gianni Infantino is looking more and more likely to be replaced as FIFA president after apologizing for his failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup.
People are asking the Swiss leader to step down after UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC all opposed his controversial idea. But the 56-year-old doesn’t seem ready to quit just yet, even after a crisis meeting in Morocco. So, how long will we have to wait before he’s replaced?
Infantino is expected to stay in charge at least until March 18, when the next election happens in Rabat, Morocco. This will be the second time in a row that the vote is held in Africa.
Last time, in Rwanda, Infantino used his strong connections on the continent and kept his job without any opponents, securing his position as the head of world football.
But this four-year term hasn’t gone as smoothly as he hoped. Although the World Cup was a big success, high ticket prices caused a lot of complaints. Now, his plan to sell shares in the tournament made 55 UEFA nations threaten to boycott it.
So, who might take over?
Victor Montagliani
Infantino’s re-election now looks less certain, and one person expected to challenge him is Victor Montagliani, president of CONCACAF. Montagliani hasn’t publicly commented on Infantino’s “mistake,” but UEFA seems to support him, calling Infantino’s backtrack a “win for the game.”
Montagliani has been CONCACAF President since 2016, after helping bring the 2026 World Cup to North America. He also played a big role in Canada hosting the 2015 Women’s World Cup. His leadership helped stabilize CONCACAF after a major corruption scandal.
Before that, he led Canada Soccer and grew its revenue significantly. He became Infantino’s Vice President shortly after Infantino’s 2016 election, and Vancouver even declared September 12 as “Victor Montagliani Day.”
However, Montagliani hasn’t been free of controversy. He faced criticism for making a deal allowing Saudi Arabia to play in the 2025 Gold Cup, drawing on his FIFA connections. He explained it was for financial reasons. Also, before the 2015 Women’s World Cup, top players sued FIFA over the use of AstroTurf pitches, but the case was dropped.
Nasser Al-Khelaifi
Another possible candidate is Nasser Al-Khelaifi, Paris Saint-Germain’s president. He’s been in charge there for 15 years and helped the club win 40 trophies, turning around their fortunes from a mid-table team.
Before his role at PSG, Al-Khelaifi was a pro tennis player representing Qatar, then moved into sports management. He’s also chairman of Qatar Sports Investments. Despite talks of him running for FIFA president, a spokesperson said he has “no ambition, no intention, and no interest” in the role.
Mattias Grafstrom
FIFA’s secretary general, Mattias Grafstrom, is another name in the mix. He was unexpectedly left out of Infantino’s private equity plans, despite helping create the expanded 32-team Club World Cup. Grafstrom was Infantino’s chief of staff and is seen as loyal but more low-key.
His quiet style may help or hurt him, and people feel FIFA might want a non-European leader next. Grafstrom’s close ties to Infantino might work against him too.
How does the vote work?
All FIFA members meet in Rabat, Morocco, and each member gets one secret ballot vote, no matter their footballing success or size. These members come from AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), CONCACAF (North, Central America and Caribbean), CONMEBOL (South America), OFC (Oceania), and UEFA (Europe).
To win, a candidate needs 106 out of 211 votes for a four-year term. Winners can run again, following re-election rules that Infantino recently changed to allow him a chance at a record fourth term.
Right now, Infantino is the only candidate, but more are expected before the nomination deadline, which hasn’t been set yet.
So, we’re likely to see new FIFA leadership by March 18, though nothing is expected before then. Infantino still looks confident, but 60-year-old Victor Montagliani seems like the strongest challenger for the job.