FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing significant pressure that could lead to his departure from the organization. While resignation presents the most direct route for his exit, mirroring his predecessor Sepp Blatter's 2015 departure, Infantino retains support and could potentially hold his position until his re-election in March for a fourth and final term.
Alternative mechanisms for his removal include the FIFA Council convening an emergency meeting. Such a meeting can be triggered if 19 of the 37 FIFA Council members request it. This bloc is comprised of nine members from UEFA, seven from AFC, five from CONCACAF, six from Africa, and five from CONMEBOL, along with Infantino and Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom. However, BBC Sport reports doubts about whether the necessary 19 votes can be achieved. If these votes are secured, the meeting must occur within two weeks, and the Council could formally request Infantino's resignation, though he could refuse.
Should these measures fail to yield a resignation, the next step involves an extraordinary congress of FIFA's 211 member associations. This congress can be called if one-fifth, or 43 associations, make a written request. UEFA, with 55 nations, has the power to initiate this process, which typically takes a minimum of two to three months to organize. Success at an extraordinary congress would require a vote of no confidence, needing 106 votes to pass. While 136 countries officially rejected a recent investment plan, voting against an idea does not automatically translate to voting to remove the president. Notably, Qatar has publicly supported Infantino, and Mexico has distanced itself from a joint CONCACAF statement.
The deadline for any potential challengers to announce their candidacy for the March election is November 18. Infantino has previously been re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023, highlighting the challenge for any potential rival seeking to unseat him.