Six nations withdraw support for Infantino’s 2030 plan

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is losing global backing for his re-election bid after his attempt to push through a privatised 2030 World Cup collapsed under criticism and legal pressure.

The plan to sell World Cup broadcasting rights in a single $30bn package to a private consortium was scrapped this week, leaving Infantino without the windfall he said would fund football development and governance reforms. At least six national football associations—including Spain, Brazil, and Germany—have now publicly withdrawn their support, with more expected to follow. The crisis follows last month’s court ruling that Infantino’s push to fast-track reforms without full consultation violated FIFA’s own statutes.

FIFA’s 211 member nations are split. Pro-Infantino blocs like Europe’s big five leagues and some African and Asian federations argue he has modernised commercial operations and grown women’s football. Opponents, led by Nordic and South American bodies, accuse him of centralising power, suppressing dissent, and using the $7.5bn 2026 World Cup budget as leverage. Infantino won his last election in 2023 with 292 of 293 possible votes after rivals were sidelined or co-opted. But the privatisation failure has exposed his reliance on a small group of wealthy allies, many tied to controversial regimes.

The next FIFA Congress in December is now the focal point. Infantino needs 50% of member votes to avoid a runoff, but at least 15 federations are pushing for an open vote rather than the usual closed ballot. If he loses that vote, he could face a challenge from within UEFA or CONMEBOL before the formal election in 2025. Analysts say the crisis risks splitting football’s global governance, threatening FIFA’s financial model and potentially derailing plans to expand the World Cup to 48 teams in 2026 and 52 in 2030. The standoff also highlights broader tensions between traditional football power bases and newer commercial interests.