Israel Drops Gianni Infantino Support As Pressure Mounts On FIFA Chief

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing growing pressure ahead of the 2027 presidential election after the Israel Football Association withdrew its support for his re-election, adding to a wider revolt over his leadership and governance of world football.

Israel’s decision came on Tuesday, with the association saying it had no choice but to withdraw its previous letter of support. The move follows growing tensions between FIFA and several national federations over Infantino’s leadership.

Israel now joins Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland among the European federations that have withdrawn or indicated they will not support Infantino. New Zealand has also moved away from its earlier backing.

The latest crisis follows Infantino’s failed plan to create a new commercial entity that would have sold about 20% of FIFA’s future World Cup commercial rights to private investors. The proposal was expected to raise billions of dollars, but it faced strong opposition from UEFA and other football bodies before FIFA abandoned it earlier this month.

The controversy deepened on August 17 when FIFA confirmed the departure of chief operating officer Kevin Lamour. Lamour had publicly criticised the investment plan, questioning its transparency and accusing the organisation of misleading staff. His departure has since triggered further criticism from human rights and football groups, who see it as a sign that dissent inside FIFA is becoming harder to tolerate.

The fallout has also exposed divisions among FIFA’s senior leadership. Infantino still has influential allies, including FIFA officials who insist that he retains broad support among member associations. Some Arab football federations have also publicly backed him despite the growing opposition.

Infantino has also faced criticism over his efforts to use football as a platform for political reconciliation. At the 2026 FIFA Congress in Vancouver, he sought a public meeting between Israeli and Palestinian football leaders. The proposed moment did not happen after Palestinian Football Association president Jibril Rajoub refused to stand alongside the Israeli delegation.

The latest developments suggest that Infantino’s biggest challenge may no longer be one controversial proposal. Instead, it is the growing crisis of confidence around how FIFA is being run.

There is still no formal challenger confirmed for the 2027 election, and Infantino retains significant support across FIFA’s 211 member associations. His allies argue that the election should decide his future rather than call for an early departure.

For now, the numbers may still favour Infantino. But the growing list of federations turning away, combined with the departure of senior officials, has created the strongest challenge to his leadership since he became FIFA president in 2016.