World Cup Stake Sale Collapses, Who Could Replace Infantino?

FIFA's withdrawal of a proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup and other tournaments to private investors has spared the future of the world's most prestigious competition. However, the future of FIFA President Gianni Infantino has become more uncertain than ever.

The backlash from member associations against Infantino's plan, dubbed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), has been immense. His senior aide, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned; FIFA CEO Kevin Lamour accused Infantino of deceiving staff. UEFA, Europe's football governing body, declared it had "lost confidence" in the president, who took office in 2016 and was re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023.

Ahead of the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027, with a filing deadline of November 18, 2026, the following names are most frequently mentioned as potential replacements for Infantino.

Nasser Al-Khelaifi – PSG President

Topping the list rapidly is Nasser Al-Khelaifi, president of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The 52-year-old Qatari businessman, a former professional tennis player, also chairs beIN Media Group and leads the influential European Football Clubs lobbying group.

The Doha-born sports executive currently sits on UEFA's Executive Committee and FIFA's Council. He guided PSG to their first UEFA Champions League title in 2025 and successfully defended it in 2026.

Victor Montagliani – CONCACAF President

As a FIFA Vice President, Victor Montagliani is seen as a strong contender for the top job. The 60-year-old Canadian has led CONCACAF, the governing body for North, Central American, and Caribbean football, since 2016 and played a key role in securing the 2026 World Cup hosting.

Previously, he served as president of the Canadian Soccer Association, proposing the country as a 2026 World Cup host, which led to a joint bid with the United States and Mexico. CONCACAF's 41 member associations rejected FIFA's FFE proposal in a meeting on Thursday (July 30, 2026), though they did not endorse UEFA's call for a boycott. Reports suggest Montagliani has been preparing to challenge Infantino following FIFA's proposals.

Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa – AFC President

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, also serves as FIFA's senior vice president. He has been among the most vocal critics of Infantino's FFE plan. The 60-year-old Bahraini royal, a member of the country's ruling family, described the proposals as "completely unacceptable" in an open letter to the region's 47 member associations.

The AFC issued a statement expressing "solidarity" with UEFA and CONCACAF but stopped short of announcing a boycott like UEFA. Sheikh Salman previously lost to Infantino in the 2016 FIFA election. With the November 18 deadline, he is considered a serious chance at the position he narrowly missed a decade ago.

Aleksander Ceferin – UEFA President

Standing at the helm of the largest, richest, and most powerful confederation, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin would wield significant influence among FIFA's 211 member associations if he ran. His organization, with 55 member nations, voted unanimously to boycott FIFA events should the FFE plan proceed.

The 58-year-old Slovenian lawyer has led UEFA since 2016 and is an ex-officio FIFA vice president. In its statement on the boycott vote, UEFA criticized the FFE plan, asserting that "no part of it should be handed to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale." UEFA also called the move "irresponsible and indefensible," selling off football's "soul."

On Saturday (August 1, 2026), UEFA issued a statement saying it had "lost confidence" in Infantino: "This is a victory for the entire game. But it must not be the end of the story. The proposal is gone. Rebuilding trust in FIFA has only just begun."

Patrice Motsepe – CAF President

Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), is considered an outside candidate. The South African billionaire, with an estimated net worth of $3.7 billion, has held the position since 2021. During that time, he has reshaped African football, moving the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from a two-year to a four-year cycle.

However, the 2025 AFCON hosted by Morocco ended in controversy when Senegal's team left the pitch during stoppage time to protest a penalty awarded to Morocco. After a 14-minute delay, play resumed, the penalty was missed, and Senegal won 1-0 in extra time. CAF later awarded the trophy to Morocco upon review, but Senegal took the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

While not entirely Motsepe's fault, the final was a major embarrassment for CAF. If Infantino has had difficult days, African football has had a poor year. Both issues remain unresolved and promise turbulent times in sports governance.