Gianni Infantino will face some of his political enemies, rivals, and harshest critics when the FIFA Council meets in Zurich on Thursday morning.
The 10am meeting is the first opportunity for the other 36 Council members to question Infantino directly about his secret plan to sell the World Cup behind their backs.
The key questions for Infantino include:
- Why didn't he tell the Council about the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal to sell a 20 per cent stake in all future FIFA tournaments to bankers with ties to US President Donald Trump?
- Why was the spin-off company, which was set to be set up, valued at only $20bn when this summer's World Cup alone generated $15bn in revenue?
- Why were FIFA's 211 member associations each promised a potential $40m from 2027-30 if they approved the plan, when FIFA already has cash reserves of up to $6bn?
- Why is FIFA now proposing to set up a $6.3bn development fund for all associations and is the extra money in the fund connected to Infantino's bid to be re-elected president in March next year?
- Why has he plunged football into civil war by refusing to resign, and why won't he resign after losing the support of the presidents of UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation?
- Why was Folarin Balogun allowed to play for the USA in the World Cup against Belgium when he was suspended? How much pressure was Infantino put under by President Trump in a phone call and how much pressure did Infantino put on the FIFA disciplinary committee to let Balogun play?
- What is the FIFA Peace Prize and why was it given to President Trump in Washington in December last year?
- Is his plan to reform how he runs FIFA just a ploy to silence his critics and stay in power until 2031? Why does FIFA need governance reform 10 years after he was elected president, promising to reform governance?
- Why do US Internal Revenue Service records show he was paid $1.7m in 2024 without FIFA mentioning it in its annual report?
Infantino was at the height of his powers this summer, but he is now facing the most serious crisis of his presidency. Despite the scandals and controversy, though, he will stay in power and win a fourth presidential term if no rival emerges to challenge him before the November 18 deadline.
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Infantino had more than 200 letters of support this summer for his re-election bid, including from the English FA, before news broke of his controversial World Cup part-privatisation plan. The plan was quickly abandoned, but many associations, especially in Europe, have withdrawn their letters of support.
The president is elected by FIFA's 211 member associations and Infantino is currently well placed to receive the 106 votes he would need to carry on until 2031. Infantino has not faced any challengers in the two elections since he first became president in 2016.
Arsene Wenger has emerged as a potential candidate to challenge Infantino, but Wenger has been working with Infantino as FIFA's chief of global football development. The former Arsenal manager is a popular and respected figure worldwide, but it remains to be seen whether he can be persuaded to stand.
FIFA has released the meeting agenda and it promises to be a slow burn, with the most contentious items set for discussion at the end of the gathering of what is effectively the FIFA board.
Items 6 and 7 on the agenda include:
- Review of FIFA Forward Enterprise Proposal
- Review of FIFA reserves and financing of member associations
- Review of FIFA's disciplinary procedures
- Review of FIFA's governance framework
- FIFA Peace Prize
The FIFA Council has 37 members made up of:
- FIFA president Gianni Infantino
- Eight vice presidents including UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and the presidents of the other five confederations. FA chair Debbie Hewitt is also a vice president
- 28 other members elected by the FIFA member associations