According to US media reports, FIFA President Gianni Infantino's position has been significantly shaken after his plan to push for private investment in FIFA's major competitions failed completely. CONCACAF President Montagliani is a potential candidate, and AFC President Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa has also been mentioned.
Gianni Infantino had long seemed a sturdy figure in his FIFA presidency, despite criticism stemming from his close ties with US President Donald Trump. However, the situation changed after this controversial plan emerged. UEFA and CONCACAF quickly and publicly voiced their strong opposition to Infantino.
UEFA's announcement of a boycott of FIFA has drawn strong criticism from the Netherlands. Dutch Football Association President Frank Pao stated, "This proposal is untenable in terms of procedure, governance, and content. It must be withdrawn. Until it is withdrawn, UEFA's 55 member states will not participate in FIFA events."
The Asian Football Confederation subsequently strongly opposed Infantino, and even within FIFA, the Swiss national faced fierce criticism. Infantino's key advisor, Carlos Cordeiro, and operations director, Kevin Lamoor, have both left FIFA.
"A president should unite people and inspire them," Lamo said. "What we're seeing now is the opposite. This is not FIFA's plan, nor is it the FIFA Board's plan. This is one man's plan." He was clearly referring to Infantino.
The Times points out that a vote of no confidence against Infantino would only require the support of 43 member countries. Given the unanimous opposition from UEFA member states to Infantino's plans, such a vote of no confidence is not far off, and at least appears feasible.
If this happens, Infantino won't be immediately ousted, but his position will be extremely precarious. Meanwhile, Montagliani is emerging as a potential successor to Infantino. The 60-year-old Canadian has never hidden his ambition to one day become FIFA president, and now seems poised to act on it.
Montagliani, who has served as president of CONCACAF since May 2016, must formally announce his candidacy by November 18. FIFA's registration deadline for the 2027-2031 term expires on that day. The winner will be announced in Rabat on March 18 next year.
Besides Montagliani, Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa is also considered a potential successor to Infantino. The 60-year-old Bahrain official, who has served as AFC president since 2013, said of Infantino's stalled plans: "The future of international football must always be shaped through in-depth consultation, collective dialogue, and respect for the sport's existing governance structure."
