Infantino is expected to confront his critics at a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich on Thursday, 15 October 2026, amid calls for his resignation and demands for greater transparency in the governance of world football.
The meeting comes after the collapse of the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative in July, which triggered opposition from several regional football confederations and intensified divisions within the global governing body.
UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF leaders challenge Infantino
The presidents of three major regional football confederations have emerged as prominent critics of Infantino's leadership.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa and CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani have called for a change at the top of FIFA following the controversy surrounding the abandoned investment proposal.
Their representatives are expected to attend the Zurich meeting alongside officials from Africa, South America and Oceania.
Although the opposition has intensified, Infantino retains significant support across parts of the international football community. African football leaders recently gave him a standing ovation during a meeting in Cape Verde, while South American support is also expected to strengthen his position ahead of the next FIFA presidential election.
The division presents a challenge for critics seeking to weaken Infantino's authority or persuade FIFA members to support an alternative candidate.
Why FIFA's World Cup investment plan collapsed
The controversy centres on FIFA's proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative, which sought to bring private investors into a commercial subsidiary responsible for lucrative football business, including World Cup-related rights.
A company launched by American investor Joshua Kushner was identified as the proposed lead investor.
The plan was intended to generate substantial funding for FIFA's development programmes, but it faced widespread criticism over transparency, governance and the potential influence of private investors on the organisation's commercial operations.
Opposition from UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC contributed to the growing backlash, forcing FIFA to abandon the proposal within days of its announcement in July.
The fallout has since developed into a broader dispute over how FIFA makes decisions, manages its financial resources and exercises power within international football.
FIFA Council to consider governance reforms
Thursday's meeting is expected to address more than the failed investment initiative.
Council members are also expected to discuss FIFA's governance framework, financial reserves, disciplinary procedures and the amount of funding that can be distributed to member associations.
The meeting follows a consultation process launched by Infantino in September to explore reforms to FIFA's operations. Initial proposals could be examined as part of the discussions.
However, questions remain over whether any review will be sufficiently independent to address the concerns raised by critics.
Sports governance advocates have called for a transparent and comprehensive examination of FIFA's decision-making structures, while some former officials have expressed doubts about whether the process will produce meaningful change.
The outcome could determine whether FIFA can rebuild confidence among its members or faces further divisions over its leadership.
FIFA plans $6.35 billion development fund
Alongside the governance dispute, FIFA is planning a $6.35 billion development fund for the 2026–2030 period.
According to reports cited by Al Jazeera, the proposed fund would provide financial support to FIFA's 211 member associations and regional confederations, drawing partly on the organisation's financial reserves following the commercial success of the 2026 World Cup.
The proposal would allow each member association to receive up to $25 million under the reported funding plan.
The proposed allocation is significantly higher than the $10 million per association that Ceferin and Montagliani had called for FIFA to release.
The development fund is due to be considered for approval at Thursday's Council meeting. Its final status will depend on the outcome of that process.
The funding debate has become another point of disagreement between Infantino and his critics, with questions over the scale of distributions and the best way to support football development worldwide.
Infantino prepares for 2027 re-election
Despite the controversy, Infantino intends to seek another term as FIFA president in March 2027.
Former Switzerland and Tottenham Hotspur defender Ramon Vega has announced his intention to challenge for the position, although he has yet to confirm whether he has secured the backing of the five national associations required to enter the election.
The deadline for submitting candidacies is 18 November 2026.
Infantino's opponents have so far failed to agree on a single alternative candidate, potentially weakening their ability to mount a coordinated challenge.
With several influential football leaders still supporting the incumbent president, his re-election prospects remain significant despite the growing criticism.
FIFA Peace Prize also under scrutiny
The Council meeting is also expected to revisit FIFA's controversial decision to award its inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to United States President Donald Trump.
The decision has attracted criticism and added to questions about the organisation's governance and the relationship between football and political leadership.
Together with the failed investment proposal and the debate over development funding, the issue is likely to place additional pressure on Infantino to explain FIFA's decisions and demonstrate that the organisation's leadership remains accountable to its members.
A crucial meeting for the future of FIFA
Thursday's gathering represents an important moment for FIFA as the organisation confronts internal divisions over its commercial strategy, financial decisions and leadership.
Infantino enters the meeting with support from several regions but faces determined opposition from leaders who want greater accountability and limits on presidential authority.
Whether the Council agrees to meaningful governance reforms, approves the proposed development fund and addresses the concerns surrounding the abandoned investment plan will be closely watched across the football world.
With the March 2027 presidential election approaching, the meeting could shape the political landscape ahead of Infantino's attempt to secure another term.