Countries Still Backing Gianni Infantino Amid Growing Backlash?

Gianni Infantino has found himself at the centre of a growing crisis following his failed attempt to privatise the FIFA World Cup through the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). Several countries and continental associations publicly rejected the plan, forcing the governing body to withdraw the proposal altogether. Some associations have taken the fallout further, pulling their support for the Swiss administrator’s upcoming re-election bid.

The global football players’ union, FIFPro, also condemned Infantino’s attempt to sell a stake in the quadrennial tournament, describing the move as an “abuse of power.”

The crisis has split football’s governing bodies into two clear camps. Below is a breakdown of where key nations and organisations currently stand:

Notably, Norway, Germany and Denmark have not yet submitted formal letters of support for Infantino’s re-election, though all three have publicly criticised his privatisation policy, placing them in an uncertain middle ground.

The growing divide highlights just how contentious Infantino’s FIFA World Cup privatisation plan has become, with major footballing nations across Europe leading the opposition while several federations in Africa, Asia and the Americas continue to back his leadership.

Do you think this backlash could genuinely threaten Gianni Infantino re-election chances?