Battle lines drawn as Infantino fights to hold onto power after FIFA stake sale fiasco

FIFA President Gianni Infantino's attempt to sell a stake in the World Cup for $4.2 billion has left him vulnerable, with three regional confederations reportedly uniting to oust him. After abandoning the plan on Friday night, Infantino apologized for the division it caused, but his power at FIFA was already shaken. Five European national associations, including England's FA, have withdrawn their support for his reelection at the March FIFA Congress in Morocco, while Denmark confirmed they would not vote for him.

Morocco, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Sri Lanka have publicly declared their continued support for Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016 and plans to stay until 2031. However, UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian confederation (AFC) have expressed their loss of confidence in his leadership, calling for institutional reform in FIFA and even considering starting their own competitions if necessary.

Infantino now faces the risk of an Extraordinary Congress if 43 or more FIFA member associations request one, giving him seven months to rebuild relationships and strengthen his position against potential challengers.