Pressure is mounting on FIFA president Gianni Infantino ahead of the 2027 presidential election after England, Wales and Serbia became the latest football associations to withdraw their support, intensifying calls for a change in leadership following the collapse of FIFA’s controversial World Cup investment proposal.
- +European FAs demand new FIFA leadership, call for Gianni Infantino’s removal
The growing opposition comes after Infantino was forced to abandon plans to sell minority stakes in a new commercial subsidiary that would have managed the commercial rights to the FIFA World Cup and other major tournaments.
The growing opposition comes after Infantino was forced to abandon plans to sell minority stakes in a new commercial subsidiary that would have managed the commercial rights to the FIFA World Cup and other major tournaments.
According to BBC reports, the English Football Association is preparing to formally notify FIFA that it is withdrawing its backing for Infantino, while the Football Association of Wales has already publicly announced it will no longer support the Swiss-Italian administrator’s bid for another term.
Serbia has now joined the list of national associations calling for new leadership ahead of FIFA’s presidential election in March 2027.
In a statement released on Monday, the Football Association of Serbia said it had reversed its earlier endorsement of Infantino following recent developments.
“We recall that the Football Association of Serbia formally expressed its support for Mr Infantino on 25 May this year, but after thorough consideration of developments that have seriously undermined the reputation and credibility of both FIFA and its President, this is the only logical and rational move.”
The Serbian federation said the future of world football must be built on transparency, dialogue and mutual respect among FIFA’s member associations.
“We believe that no decision of strategic importance for the future of football should be made without broad consensus and open consultation with all relevant stakeholders.”
It added that international football now requires “new trust, a new approach and new management” capable of restoring unity and credibility within FIFA.
UEFA has since declared it has lost confidence in FIFA’s leadership, accusing the governing body of pursuing major governance reforms without adequate consultation.
The European governing body warned that football could no longer tolerate major strategic decisions being developed behind closed doors and has called for those responsible to be held accountable.
Concacaf echoed those concerns, describing the failed proposal as evidence of deeper governance problems within FIFA.
Infantino is expected to seek a fourth and final term as FIFA president at the organisation’s 2027 Congress, where he will require the support of at least 106 of FIFA’s 211 member associations to secure re-election.
However, with several influential football bodies withdrawing their backing and calls for new leadership growing louder, the Swiss-Italian now faces the most significant political challenge of his presidency.
According to reports, Infantino is also expected to engage with senior officials in the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump as he seeks to strengthen international support ahead of the election.
The withdrawal of support by England, Wales and Serbia marks another setback for the FIFA president and signals that opposition to his leadership is spreading beyond the continental confederations to national football associations, raising fresh questions over his prospects of securing another term in office.
