Just a few weeks ago, Gianni Infantino was on top of the world. On July 19, he crowned Spain as 2026 World Cup winners and looked set to cruise through an election process in which he would run unopposed again, securing his final term at a FIFA congress in Rabat, Morocco.
Then came the FFE.
Infantino’s ambitious plan to sell a minority stake in the World Cup to private investors—the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE)—has backfired spectacularly. UEFA led the charge against it, triggering a rebellion that now threatens to turn the March 2026 presidential election into a genuine contest. Candidates must declare by Nov. 18, and several credible challengers are already being mentioned.
Victor Montagliani: The Front-Runner
If there’s one man who could actually pull this off, it’s the Concacaf president. Montagliani is widely seen as the front-runner to replace Infantino should he stand. He has the resume: he oversaw Canada’s hosting of the 2015 Women’s World Cup, launched the Canadian Premier League, and steadied Concacaf after its previous two presidents were indicted on corruption charges.
He also has a day named after him. Last year, his hometown of Vancouver proclaimed Sept. 12 as “Victor Montagliani Day” to honor his achievement of bringing the World Cup to Canada.
At 60, Montagliani comes from outside Europe—a factor that could help him rally support from across the sport. But he’s not without baggage. Former players criticized his handling of sexual assault allegations against a former Vancouver Whitecaps coach, and he defended a controversial private investment deal that led to player strikes, a $40 million lawsuit, and a parliamentary hearing.
Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa: The Asian Power Broker
The AFC president has already shown his hand. He sent a letter to FIFA accusing the governing body of “fundamental weaknesses in FIFA’s consultation and decision-making processes” over the FFE proposal. A member of the Bahrain royal family with more than 30 years in soccer, Al Khalifa has presided over the growth of the AFC Champions League Elite during his 14 years as AFC president.
He advocates for women’s football in the region and opposes expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams. But his critics point to his connection to allegations of human rights abuses by the Bahraini royal family during the 2011 Arab Spring.
Nasser Al-Khelaifi: The Reluctant Candidate?
Few figures in world soccer are as powerful as the PSG president. He heads Qatar Sports Investments, owns PSG, and leads beIN Media Group. He’s guided PSG to 12 Ligue 1 titles and two Champions League trophies, signed Neymar for €222 million and Mbappé for €180 million, and helped lead the resistance to the European Super League.
But here’s the twist: he’s reportedly not interested in the job. The Qatar Football Association has already backed Infantino, which would be a major obstacle for any Al-Khelaifi bid. He also faces scrutiny over conflicts of interest involving his various roles, and Bayern Munich fans once unfurled a banner criticizing him.
Other Names in the Mix
Aleksander Čeferin (UEFA president): Infantino’s biggest critic. He refused to attend the World Cup final over the Balogun red-card controversy. But his own record includes controversial Champions League format changes.
Lise Klaveness (Norwegian FA president): The most vocal FIFA opponent. A former player with 73 Norway caps, she already has support from one unlikely source—Sepp Blatter, who said “it is time” for FIFA’s first female president.
Mattias Grafström (FIFA secretary general): Second-most-senior figure at FIFA. He conspicuously failed to offer support for Infantino after the FFE debacle.
The Bottom Line
Infantino’s grip on the presidency is no longer as strong as it was—but that doesn’t mean he’s done. He’s a survivor who has weathered criticism before. The question is whether the rebellion that derailed his FFE plan can now unite behind a single credible challenger.
With the election still months away and the Nov. 18 candidate deadline approaching, one thing is certain: FIFA’s corridors of power are about to get very interesting. And for the first time in years, Infantino might actually have to fight for his job.
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