A month after the presentation of a controversial World Cup proposal, Gianni Infantino remains president of FIFA, with his opponents yet to remove the Swiss from the governing body’s top position.
The next opportunity to challenge him will come at the FIFA presidential election in March, when the organisation’s member associations gather to decide whether Infantino should continue in office.
The Congress will take place in Rabat, Morocco, on 18 March. Infantino is seeking re-election for a third time, although it is not yet clear whether he will face a rival on the ballot.
His previous two elections were largely formalities because no opposing candidates came forward. The situation could be different this time, with an increasingly contested campaign expected before the deadline for nominations.
Any candidate wishing to stand against Infantino must register by 18 November. One or more challengers must therefore declare their intention before that date if they are to contest the presidency.
Victor Montagliani, president of CONCACAF, has been identified by several observers as a serious potential candidate. However, no rival has yet been confirmed in the source of the challenge to Infantino.
The election has gained added significance after UEFA made its position clear at the beginning of August. European football’s governing body said it would continue its boycott of FIFA competitions if Infantino remains president of the world football governing organisation.
A motion of no confidence was also considered as a possible way of attempting to remove him from office. Since then, however, the tone appears to have changed, with attention moving away from that prospect and towards the presidential election in March.
Infantino remains in post despite the pressure surrounding the controversial World Cup project presented a month ago. His opponents have so far been unable to secure his dismissal, meaning the presidential vote is now the clearest scheduled opportunity to challenge his leadership.
For Infantino, the Rabat Congress represents an attempt to secure another mandate after two uncontested victories. For those seeking a change at the top of FIFA, the immediate priority is to produce a credible alternative before the 18 November registration deadline.
The outcome will depend first on whether a challenger formally emerges. If no rival comes forward, Infantino’s re-election could again become a straightforward process. If Montagliani or another candidate enters the race, the March meeting will instead provide the first direct presidential contest Infantino has faced since taking the role.
