Infantino looks set to stay, but FIFA faces a new war over power

Gianni Infantino's future at FIFA remains uncertain, with the battle to oust the president of world soccer's governing body seemingly nearing its end, but a new power struggle over his continued presidency may only just begin. Senior figures in world football now see the crisis triggered by Infantino's abandoned private-investment plan shifting from succession to a fight over the terms of his presidency.

A potential compromise could see Infantino remain in office but relinquish some power, while a prolonged "cold war" scenario could unfold, in which clubs, confederations, player representatives, and national associations challenge FIFA across competitions, money, and control of the international calendar. One senior world football executive stated that Infantino is "hanging on" and that a prolonged cold war would be unprecedented in sports governance.

Despite Infantino's attempts to end the crisis, trust remains broken, with UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin dismissing the proposal to sell a 20% stake in FIFA's commercial rights and calling for unity, transparency, and governance that serves the many, not the few. If no compromise is reached, the alternative could be attritional battles rather than spectacular ones, with stakeholders fighting over various aspects of FIFA.