Gianni Infantino will face some of his fiercest political enemies, rivals and critics when the FIFA Council meets in Zurich on Thursday morning.
The 10am meeting is the first opportunity for the other 36 Council members to question Infantino directly about his secret plan to sell the World Cup behind his back.
Key questions for Infantino include:
- Why didn’t he tell the Council about FIFA Forward Enterprise’s proposal to sell a 20 percent stake in all future FIFA tournaments to bankers with ties to US President Donald Trump?
- Why was the spin-off company, which would be set up, valued at just $20 billion when this summer’s World Cup alone generated $15 billion in revenue?
- Why were FIFA’s 211 member associations each promised a potential $40 million from 2027-30 if they approved the plan, when FIFA already has cash reserves of up to $6 billion?
- Why is FIFA now proposing the creation of a $6.3 billion development fund for all associations, and is the extra money in the fund linked to Infantino’s bid for re-election as president in March next year?
- Why has he plunged football into civil war by refusing to resign, and why will he not resign after losing the support of the presidents of UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation?
- Why was Folarin Balogun allowed to play for the USA in the World Cup against Belgium when he was suspended? How much pressure was Infantino put on by President Trump in a phone call and how much pressure did Infantino put on the FIFA disciplinary committee to let Balogu play?
- What is the FIFA Peace Prize and why was it awarded to President Trump in Washington last December?
- Is his plan to reform the way he runs FIFA just a ploy to silence his critics and stay in power until 2031? Why does FIFA need governance reform 10 years after he was elected president, promising to reform governance?
- Why do US Internal Revenue Service records show he was paid $1.7 million in 2024 without mentioning FIFA in its annual report?
Infantino was at the height of his powers this summer, but now faces the most serious crisis of his presidency. Despite the scandals and controversies, however, he will remain in power and win a fourth presidential term if no rival emerges to challenge him before the November 18 deadline.
Infantino had more than 200 letters of support this summer for his re-election bid, including from the English FA, before news broke of his controversial plan to privatize the World Cup. The plan was quickly abandoned, but many associations, especially in Europe, have withdrawn their letters of support.
The president is elected by FIFA’s 211 member associations, and Infantino is currently well on his way to getting the 106 votes he would need to continue until 2031. Infantino has not faced a challenger in the two elections since he first became president in 2016.
Arsene Wenger has emerged as a potential candidate to challenge Infantino, but Wenger has worked with Infantino as FIFA’s head of global football development. The former Arsenal manager is a well-known and respected figure around the world, but it remains to be seen whether he can be persuaded to stay.
FIFA has released the agenda for the meeting and it promises to be a slow burn, with the most contentious items set for discussion at the end of the meeting of what is effectively FIFA’s board.
Agenda items 6 and 7 include:
- Review of the FIFA Forward Enterprise Proposal
- Review of FIFA reserves and funding of member associations
- Review of FIFA disciplinary procedures
- Review of FIFA’s governance framework
- FIFA Peace Prize
The FIFA Council has 37 members consisting of:
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino
- Eight vice-presidents including UEFA president Aleksander Ceferi and the presidents of five other confederations. FA chairman Debbie Hewitt is also a vice-president
- 28 other members elected by FIFA’s member associations
