FIFA President Gianni Infantino has proposed a direct and structured consultation with all 211 member federations to reform the governance of world football's governing body, according to a letter seen by news agencies AFP and EFE.
The proposal comes as the 56-year-old official faces mounting opposition from major continental confederations following a controversial initiative to commercialize FIFA World Cup stakes.
Writing to member associations, Infantino proposed that the FIFA Council establish a direct, structured, and time-bound consultation with confederations, national associations, and key stakeholders on how to further strengthen the organization's decision-making process.
The initiative aims to invite specific proposals regarding earlier involvement by institutional bodies and to clarify the respective roles of the president, Bureau, Council, and Congress. It also seeks concrete methods to bolster transparency, participation, and accountability in key strategic initiatives.
FIFA, founded in Paris in 1904 and headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, serves as the global governing body for association football. It oversees 211 member associations grouped into six continental confederations, with the annual FIFA Congress operating as its supreme legislative assembly and the FIFA Council handling strategic direction.
Opposition over World Cup commercial plan
Infantino offered the reform initiative at a time when he faces growing resistance across the global game. In July, he promoted a project to sell ownership stakes in the FIFA World Cup to private investors through a newly created commercial enterprise, doing so without prior consultation with member federations.
Although Infantino has signaled he will back down from the commercialization plan, resistance to his leadership remains intense. Governing bodies representing Europe, Asia, and North America continue to demand his departure from the organization.
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) maintain coordinated pressure calling for Infantino to step down. Several individual national federations have joined the three continental confederations in demanding his resignation.
UEFA, AFC, and CONCACAF represent three of FIFA's six regional bodies, encompassing major footballing nations, high-profile domestic leagues, and a significant share of the global audience and commercial revenue generated by international competitions.
Council debate and voting equality
Proposals submitted during the consultation period will be debated at the next scheduled meeting of the FIFA Council on October 15.
Infantino stated in his letter that every member association will hold an equal voice during the deliberations. Any resulting statutory amendments or policy recommendations will subsequently be submitted to the FIFA Congress for formal review and voting.
Addressing potential concerns over retaliation, Infantino wrote that the treatment given to any federation will not depend on its position regarding institutional proposals or issues. He stated that all member associations have the right to be heard, adding that agreement is not a prerequisite for dialogue and that disagreement must never prevent mutual respect.
Under FIFA statutes, each of the 211 national federations possesses one vote at the annual Congress, giving smaller member nations equal legislative weight to larger footballing powers regardless of team ranking or financial contribution.
External governance review and financial goals
Expressing a determination to protect FIFA's independence, strengthen its institutions, and ensure that progress benefits football globally, Infantino also questioned whether the Council wishes to commission an independent external evaluation of the current governance structure.
The proposed independent assessment would examine the body's governance mechanisms for major initiatives and recommend potential structural improvements.
Regarding financial growth, Infantino wrote that FIFA will continue to explore sustainable avenues to increase its financial resources and expand development and solidarity support for all member associations.
He stressed that what changes is not the organization's ambition, but the robustness of the process through which major initiatives are developed, analyzed, and decided. He noted that the progress achieved over the past decade provides a solid foundation for the future.
Infantino concluded his letter by stating that strong institutions do not wait for their systems to fail before considering how to improve them. He urged member federations to maintain their ambition, listen carefully, and ensure that major initiatives are examined through clear and effective processes.
Electoral timeline and leadership history
Infantino announced his intention to seek re-election in May during a FIFA Congress held ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup tournament was held jointly across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, concluding with European champion Spain lifting the trophy.
If Infantino wins the upcoming vote and serves until 2031, the Swiss-Italian lawyer would complete 15 years in charge of the global governing body. The election is scheduled to take place in March 2027 during a congress in Rabat, the capital of Morocco.
Candidates seeking the presidency must submit official candidate lists supported by at least five member federations by November 18. Infantino currently stands as the sole declared candidate for the election.
Predecessor legacy and election history
Infantino became the ninth president in FIFA history in 2016 after winning a ballot against three rival candidates.
He succeeded Swiss official Sepp Blatter, who resigned in 2015 after a series of high-profile fraud and corruption allegations split the organization. Blatter was subsequently barred from all football-related activities until 2027, though he was definitively acquitted of charges by Swiss courts in 2025.
Infantino initially completed the remainder of Blatter's final term. Under FIFA statutes, partial terms do not count toward the established 12-year presidential term limit.
Before assuming the top role at FIFA, Infantino served as secretary-general of UEFA. Following his initial 2016 election victory, he ran unopposed in both 2019 and 2023, securing re-election by acclamation on both occasions.
