Infantino's First Show of Strength Against Opponents

Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, will face his critics on Thursday for the first time since the scandals that brought him to the brink of removal this summer.

According to "Sports Three", Infantino is in a much better position than predicted. In Zurich, this high-ranking official will meet with the thirty-six members of the FIFA Council in their first meeting. During this time and after the 2026 World Cup, which was accompanied by controversy despite its commercial success, an unexpected event happened and Infantino, who was the main candidate for the presidential election on March 18, 2027, almost went to the brink of exit.

Even after he withdrew from the private investors plan, continental confederations including UEFA, CONCACAF and Asia called for his resignation. Therefore, the first meeting of the FIFA Council seemed risky, but instead of proposing a vote of no confidence, the opposition sought to present their reform ideas.

In September, Aleksandar Ceferin and Viktor Montagliani asked FIFA to pay at least ten million dollars from its financial reserves to each of the member national confederations. Instead of troubling the 56-year-old Infantino, the request provided a golden opportunity to boost his re-election chances.

Criticism of FIFA's burgeoning coffers comes as the organization continues to face a UEFA lawsuit alleging mismanagement, but the distribution of funds among national federations is Infantino's most important trump card. In a system where each country has one vote, the vast majority of the voting rights holders simply live off of FIFA's budget and have no desire to change the system. For example, the Turks and Caicos Islands received more than China and Brazil.

Sports geopolitics experts believe that even with suspicions about manipulation in sports, Infantino has built a powerful support network since 2016 that is very difficult to overcome.

If the change of the presidency is not possible, the opposition can influence the governing structure because UEFA has proposed to increase the powers of the FIFA Council and the membership of interested institutions. Also on the agenda of Thursday's meeting is the review of the first edition of the Women's Club World Cup, which will probably be held in the United States in 2028.