Infantino’s FIFA future may hinge on football’s smallest nations

Gianni Infantino’s attempt to secure a fourth term as FIFA president could depend on support from some of the world’s smallest and least influential football nations, rather than on winning back Europe’s traditional powers.

The 56-year-old Swiss is facing the most serious crisis of his decade in charge after UEFA and Concacaf declared they had no confidence in his leadership following a failed proposal to bring private equity into the World Cup.

Infantino has confirmed that he intends to stand again at next year’s FIFA Congress in April. However, his position could be challenged before the election takes place.

Wales became the first football federation to formally withdraw its support for Infantino on Monday. UEFA also confirmed that it had written to him to say it was considering legal action over the private-equity proposal.

Opponents could seek to remove the president through a vote at an Extraordinary Congress (EC). Such a meeting can be requested if 20% of FIFA’s 211 member associations submit a written demand.

An EC would have to be held within three months of a valid request, giving potential rival candidates time to organise a campaign.

UEFA, which has 55 member associations, could trigger the process on its own if all of its members backed the move unanimously. The confederation has already said its members would boycott all FIFA tournaments if the proposed stake sale went ahead.

But securing the votes needed to remove Infantino may prove considerably more difficult.

Every one of FIFA’s 211 members has an equal vote, despite major differences in wealth, footballing development and political influence. That gives emerging nations, including Bhutan and Vanuatu, the same formal power as France, Spain and England.

For countries that have never qualified for a World Cup, FIFA funding is often central to the development of the sport. Associations can claim up to $3m for football development projects during the 2023-26 World Cup cycle, an increase of $1m on the previous cycle.

That sum is relatively modest for wealthy nations with professional leagues and established infrastructure. For smaller football nations, however, it can be essential.

The proposed stake sale was aimed primarily at these less affluent members, many of which have benefited significantly during Infantino’s presidency.

Vanuatu are ranked 160th in the world and sixth among the teams in the Oceania confederation. Yet the country’s football association president, Lambert Maltock, sits among FIFA’s eight vice-presidents on the organisation’s Executive Council.

FIFA also awarded Vanuatu a $4.15m development grant to help fund a 6,500-capacity stadium in the capital, Port Vila. The stadium was completed in 2022.

Brian Kaltak, Vanuatu’s first professional footballer, said Infantino’s support had made a significant difference both to his country and to developing nations more broadly.

“First of all, he gave a chance for our president to be part of Fifa and then with development projects, he’s been trying to grow the game not just Vanuatu but all third-world countries,” the Perth Glory defender told Reuters on Monday.

“He’s opening up more chances for a team like ours, for nations like ours to make it’s. It’s been a massive help.”

Comparable FIFA investment has been made across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. Grants have helped pay for training pitches, gyms and football programmes that national associations would otherwise struggle to fund.

Critics argue that the system has also strengthened FIFA’s political influence, allowing the organisation to exchange financial support for loyalty and making it harder to assemble a coalition against a sitting president.

The battle over Infantino’s future may therefore not be decided by Europe’s established football powers alone. Instead, the outcome could depend on whether FIFA’s smaller members continue to support the president whose funding has helped sustain their development programmes.