The World Cup and its aftermath have made clear that Fifa needs independent oversight by governments and NGOs dedicated to preserving the people's game. However, Infantino's proposal to privatize the World Cup by injecting $20bn in private capital has raised concerns about the potential risks to players, fans, and clubs. The proposal has been met with resistance from some Fifa member associations, but Infantino has received support from several countries, including Mexico, Qatar, and several Asian national associations.
Infantino's ties to Trump have been a subject of controversy, with some accusing him of emulating Trump's authoritarian style. Infantino has been accused of being dictatorial and of undermining the democratic principles of Fifa. The Guardian Football reports that Infantino has declared that he could run again in 2027, despite being limited to three terms of office by Fifa statutes.
The next step in this saga is the upcoming Fifa election in March, where Infantino is expected to face opposition from several candidates. However, Infantino's patronage system and his ability to distribute millions of dollars to football associations around the globe have made him a formidable candidate. The FairSquare nonprofit human-rights organization has launched a "Reboot Fifa" campaign to declare Infantino ineligible for the election and to create a class-action complaint against him for violating Fifa's governing statutes on political neutrality.