FIFA President Gianni Infantino is set to hold a critical meeting with senior FIFA officials in Morocco on Wednesday, aiming to stabilize his position following the collapse of a controversial plan to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights.

Last week, Infantino proposed creating a new commercial rights entity and selling 20% to private investors to raise $4.2 billion. The plan included involvement from a company linked to the family of former U.S. President Donald Trump, sparking widespread criticism and accusations of compromising the integrity of football.

Despite withdrawing the proposal last Friday, Infantino continues to face skepticism, particularly from UEFA, which has expressed a loss of confidence in his leadership. This backlash jeopardizes his expected re-election for a fourth term at the FIFA Congress in Morocco this March.

Internal FIFA Turmoil and Resignations

Internal discord has surfaced within FIFA, with Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom describing the project’s abandonment as a "sad and reproachable series of events." FIFA Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour also revealed that staff felt "deceived" by what he called "the project of one person."

Infantino’s senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned in protest, while FIFA’s Global Football Development chief Arsène Wenger distanced himself from the plan, emphasizing he was not involved in its drafting and supported its withdrawal.

Support and Opposition Across Confederations

Infantino has spent the past week in Morocco—a future World Cup co-host nation that has reaffirmed support for him—seeking to secure backing from FIFA’s 211 member associations, particularly in Africa where many federations rely heavily on FIFA funding.

However, UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) reportedly aim to challenge Infantino’s leadership, with reports suggesting they might paralyze FIFA operations or launch alternative competitions if he refuses to step down.

Not all AFC members share this stance; countries including Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia have declared loyalty to Infantino. The African confederation (CAF) has yet to take an official position, though leading African football administrators have voiced support for the president.

Road to March Election

FIFA rules grant equal voting power to all member associations, regardless of size or ranking, which benefits Infantino as no strong challenger has emerged ahead of the March election. Jordan FA President Prince Ali bin Hussein, a previous candidate, has publicly refused to endorse Infantino, accusing FIFA of attempting to use "blackmail" to secure support.

The upcoming weeks are expected to be pivotal for FIFA’s leadership and the global football community as Infantino seeks to navigate the fallout and secure his presidency through 2031.