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CONCACAF stands to gain the most. Its president, Victor Montagliani, is the frontrunner among possible challengers to Gianni Infantino, and his federation carries 41 votes plus fresh momentum from co-hosting the 2026 World Cup across North America. Three confederations representing 143 of FIFA’s 211 member associations have already demanded Infantino’s resignation over a botched privatisation attempt, and if that pressure eventually produces a genuinely new president, CONCACAF’s own candidate looks best placed to benefit from the resulting shift in institutional power and global influence.
On August 10, 2026, UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC jointly signed an open letter calling on Infantino to step down. It was co-signed by UEFA’s Aleksander Ceferin, the AFC’s Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa and CONCACAF’s Victor Montagliani, along with their three general secretaries, marking the first time three confederations had moved together against a sitting president.
Together, those three confederations represent 143 of FIFA’s 211 member associations, comfortably above the 106 votes needed for a simple majority in Congress. CAF, with 54 votes, and CONMEBOL, with 10, reaffirmed support for Infantino, while Oceania’s OFC stayed neutral pending internal consultation among its own eleven members.
| Bloc | Votes | Stance |
| UEFA | 55 | Demanding resignation |
| CONCACAF | 41 | Demanding resignation |
| AFC | 47 | Demanding resignation |
| CAF | 54 | Supportive |
| CONMEBOL | 10 | Supportive |
| OFC | 11 | Neutral |
The letter stopped short of naming Infantino directly but left little doubt about its target. The three confederations accused FIFA’s leadership of a fundamental breach of trust over its attempt to sell roughly 20 percent of FIFA’s commercial rights, including a World Cup stake, to private investors for a reported $4.2 billion.
A fund tied to a close aide of Donald Trump had reportedly become a key investor before the plan was abruptly withdrawn under pressure. The letter demanded a fully independent third-party review of the whole process, rejected FIFA’s framing of the episode as a simple miscommunication, and called for leadership that serves football rather than commands it. UEFA went further still, earlier threatening to boycott FIFA competitions altogether while Infantino remains in charge.
The next presidential election is set for March 18, 2027, at the 77th Congress in Rabat. Infantino announced at the Vancouver Congress in April 2026 that he would seek a fourth term, having run unopposed in both 2019 and 2023.
Any candidate needs an active role in football for two of the previous five years and written support from at least five member associations, with a nomination deadline of November 18, 2026. Each association can only formally back one candidate, making that declaration a high-stakes commitment. Infantino’s partial first term from 2016 to 2019 doesn’t count toward the three-term cap, leaving him eligible to stand again for a fourth term overall.
Montagliani is widely seen as the frontrunner. The Canadian executive played a central role in delivering the 2026 World Cup to North America, and reports suggest he is already making moves toward a presidential bid. He isn’t European, which could make him more palatable to African and Asian federations wary of handing control back to UEFA.
Ceferin remains a serious potential candidate given his institutional profile and his willingness to confront Infantino publicly, including boycotting the 2026 final entirely. The AFC’s Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa and PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, with his influence across European clubs, are also mentioned as realistic contenders.
If Infantino loses or steps aside, CONCACAF gains the most, shifting from institutional critic to power centre behind a Montagliani candidacy backed by 41 associations and fresh World Cup hosting credibility. That kind of presidency would still need UEFA’s 55 votes in coalition, reshaping how global football’s biggest decisions ultimately get made.
History supports the pattern. When Infantino replaced Sepp Blatter in 2016, UEFA’s influence jumped sharply because of his own background as its general secretary at the time. A CONCACAF-driven era would likely push governance reform, transparency and commercial deals under broader oversight, which is exactly what the rebel letter is asking for. That is why the FIFA Infantino confederations election 2027 has quietly become the moment every federation is now positioning around.
Which confederation do you think ends up truly running football after 2027, CONCACAF, UEFA, or someone else entirely? Drop your prediction below.
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Can Gianni Infantino be forced out as FIFA president?
Removal is extremely difficult under FIFA’s own rules. A special motion needs a two-thirds majority, 141 of 211 votes, so resignation remains more likely than a forced exit.
Which confederations want Infantino to resign?
UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC signed the joint letter on August 10, 2026. Together they represent 143 of FIFA’s 211 member associations, well above the 106 needed for a majority.
When is the next FIFA presidential election?
It will be held on March 18, 2027, at the 77th Congress in Rabat, Morocco. The formal nomination deadline for candidates falls on November 18, 2026, months before delegates actually vote.
Who could replace Infantino as FIFA president?
Victor Montagliani of CONCACAF is the most frequently mentioned frontrunner. Aleksander Ceferin, Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa and PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi are also named as realistic contenders for the role.
How much power do FIFA confederations actually hold?
Confederation presidents coordinate bloc voting even though each member association votes individually at Congress. Three confederations commanding 143 potential votes between them represent a threat no sitting FIFA president can ignore.
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