The football associations of Sweden and Serbia have withdrawn their support for Gianni Infantino’s expected bid for re-election as FIFA president in 2027.
Their decision follows the Football Association of Wales ending its backing for Infantino, increasing the pressure on the FIFA president ahead of the next election.
Sweden and Serbia said they were removing their support because of FIFA’s controversial attempt to sell stakes in its competitions. The move has intensified scrutiny of Infantino’s leadership and the governing body’s plans for the commercial future of major international tournaments.
The dispute centres on a proposal to sell a reported US$4 billion stake in the FIFA World Cup to an investment group led by Joshua Kushner. Kushner is the brother of Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.
The proposal was strongly opposed by UEFA, which threatened to boycott the World Cup if the plan went ahead. Opposition from CONCACAF and the AFC added to the resistance, and the combined pressure eventually forced FIFA to abandon the proposal.
Infantino is now facing growing uncertainty over the support available to him as he prepares for a possible attempt to remain FIFA president beyond 2027. The withdrawals by the associations of Sweden and Serbia mean three national football bodies have now publicly ended their backing, following the earlier decision by the Football Association of Wales.
The developments have placed renewed focus on the relationship between FIFA and its member associations. The governing body’s attempt to sell a stake in its competitions has become the central issue behind the recent loss of support for Infantino.
Although the proposal has been abandoned, its impact on Infantino’s re-election prospects remains significant. The plan attracted criticism because of the scale of the proposed investment and the involvement of an investment group led by Joshua Kushner. UEFA’s threat to boycott the World Cup demonstrated the strength of opposition to the idea, while the positions taken by CONCACAF and the AFC ensured that FIFA could not proceed.
The Football Association of Wales was the first of the three associations mentioned to withdraw its support. Sweden and Serbia have since followed, making clear that their backing for Infantino’s expected re-election campaign is no longer in place.
Infantino’s position as FIFA president is therefore under increasing pressure, with the expected 2027 election already being shaped by the dispute over the abandoned World Cup investment plan. Further details of his re-election bid have not been given, but the withdrawals underline the challenge he faces in maintaining support among national football associations.
