FIFA President Gianni Infantino has the official support of more than 200 countries for a fourth term in the election less than a year away, with 211 member federations eligible to vote. A handful of mainly European nations have withheld endorsement, though UEFA is not yet prepared to back an opposition candidate.
Infantino's tenure has drawn scrutiny over the prioritisation of commercial and political interests. U.S. President Donald Trump, who received FIFA's own peace prize in December 2025, personally called Infantino to urge reconsideration of a match ban on U.S. striker Folarin Balogun — a suspension FIFA ultimately lifted, prompting anger from several European federations. Infantino praised the World Cup as "the greatest human social and cultural event that mankind has ever witnessed" during an appearance with Trump at Trump Tower in New York.
Critics point to Saudi Arabia being awarded the 2034 World Cup after a bidding process without meaningful competition. Frank Johansson, head of Amnesty International in Finland, has warned of human rights concerns surrounding the tournament.