World Cup Crises Put Infantino's FIFA Future Under Pressure

The controversial events surrounding the 2026 World Cup have cast a shadow over Gianni Infantino's future as FIFA president, just months ahead of the elections set for March 2027 during the 77th FIFA Congress.

Spanish newspaper "Mundo Deportivo" reported that the controversy began after the red card issued to American striker Folarin Balogun was overturned, allowing him to participate in his country's match against Belgium in the Round of 16. Criticism intensified following the officiating performance of French referee François Letexier during the Argentina vs. Egypt match.

The report added that these incidents come at a sensitive time, as Infantino has announced his intention to run for a new term after 11 years at the helm of FIFA, raising questions about how these crises might affect the stance of member associations during the voting process.

It was clarified that FIFA's General Assembly includes 211 national associations distributed across six continental federations: CAF, UEFA, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, AFC, and OFC, all of which have voting rights in FIFA presidential elections.

The report highlighted that CAF, which comprises 54 national associations, is the second-largest continental federation by membership after UEFA, which has 55 associations. Additionally, Morocco, a key member of CAF, is set to host the 2030 World Cup in partnership with Spain and Portugal, amidst ongoing debates regarding the final match's hosting.

The report also confirmed that the tense relationship between UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin and Gianni Infantino adds a new dimension to the situation, especially with rumors circulating about Čeferin potentially running for FIFA presidency in the future. Furthermore, Belgium, one of the teams most affected by recent events, is part of UEFA, which could amplify the impact of these issues on the upcoming elections.