FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing growing criticism following the collapse of the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise project. The Swiss football chief is expected in Morocco on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, for a strategic meeting with senior FIFA officials as he seeks to secure support and restore confidence in his leadership.
Infantino gathers FIFA officials in Salé
According to reports from RFI and AFP, Gianni Infantino will chair a high-level meeting at FIFA’s African headquarters located inside the Mohammed VI complex in Salé, near Rabat.
The meeting comes at a difficult moment for the FIFA president, whose leadership has been questioned after the failure of the FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative.
The project, which aimed to open FIFA to private investors, faced strong opposition from several football stakeholders before being eventually shelved.
A battle for influence among FIFA member associations
Infantino is now working to assess his level of support among FIFA’s 211 member associations.
The Asian football region has emerged as a key area in this political battle, with the FIFA president seeking to maintain enough backing ahead of future decisions.
Sources indicate that Infantino wants to know whether he still has the necessary support, estimated at more than 106 votes, before deciding his next move.
Some federations have requested additional time before taking a position, while the Swiss Football Association is reportedly seeking a direct discussion with the FIFA president.
Traditional allies begin to distance themselves
The controversy has affected several of Infantino’s traditional supporters.
The English and Welsh football associations are among those who withdrew their backing for the FIFA Forward Enterprise project, while other voices within international football have also expressed concerns.
Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, president of the Jordan Football Association, criticized some of the methods allegedly used to secure support, saying they could “amount to blackmail.”
Concerns within FIFA leadership
The pressure has also reached FIFA’s internal structure.
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström and global football development chief Arsène Wenger have reportedly expressed reservations about the project.
Their positions have added to the uncertainty surrounding Infantino’s leadership and increased calls for greater transparency within the organisation.
Calls for FIFA governance reform
Beyond the abandoned investment plan, the crisis has triggered a wider debate over FIFA’s governance model.
Some European officials are calling for a stronger executive structure, with greater checks and balances and a reduced concentration of power around the FIFA president.
With major football milestones approaching, Gianni Infantino now faces one of the most challenging periods of his presidency.
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