Financially, the 2026 World Cup is a total success for Gianni Infantino, with economic benefits announced by some around 17 billion euros. A new record which will shatter the one achieved four years ago in Qatar (11 billion euros). For the rest, the FIFA president has only continued the controversies. So much so that he is starting to lose support for his re-election as president of world football’s governing body.
A few months after having presented a “Peace Prize” on television to his friend, American President Donald Trump, about whom he also publicly regretted that he had not received the Nobel Peace Prize, the Swiss found himself at the center of a gigantic controversy linked to the “Folarin Balogun affair” in the middle of the World Cup.
The establishment of refreshment breaks during the two periods of the matches, but also the announcement of the show planned for half-time of the World Cup final, a sort of American-style Super Bowl-style show whose minimum duration should be twenty minutes, added to its discredit. At least from the point of view of certain federations.
As the election for the presidency of FIFA scheduled for March 18, 2027 in Rabat (Morocco) looms, Gianni Infantino has lost the support of Germany. As Bild reported this week, the German Football Association has decided to distance itself from the leader and former deputy of Michel Platini when the latter served as UEFA president.
Gianni Infantino remains widely supported
Quoted by the German media, the president of the DFB, Bernd Neuendorf, confirmed having refused to initial a letter of support to Gianni Infantino with a view to his re-election. Some rumors suggest the possibility of seeing other football nations, particularly in Europe, deciding to no longer follow the fifty-six-year-old man.
Decisions which, however, remain marginal, as Gianni Infantino has support from the African, South American and Asian federations. The Swiss remains the big favorite for his own succession, especially since he currently has no candidate facing him. For his part, the president of the FFF, Philippe Diallo, seems rather inclined to support Infantino’s candidacy. If he were to be re-elected, the FIFA boss would be reappointed for four more years, until 2031.
