UEFA football leaders meet to shape strategy to oust FIFA’s Infantino

What the report says

European football leaders are meeting in Berlin as UEFA seeks a strategy to challenge FIFA president Gianni Infantino, according to Al Jazeera, citing an Associated Press report published on 7 October 2026. UEFA has brought together its 55 member federations for a scheduled summit, where officials are expected to discuss how to present a reform-minded alternative ahead of FIFA’s next presidential election, set for March 18 in Rabat, Morocco.

The reporting says UEFA’s push was sharpened by Infantino’s short-lived proposal involving private investment in World Cup commercial rights, which deepened mistrust among some European officials. UEFA has also been weighing more confrontational steps, including a possible criminal complaint in Switzerland and requests for evidence in the United States related to the deal. UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis has publicly argued that football’s balance of power needs to be restored.

The challenge for UEFA is to agree on a single candidate by the November 18 deadline to enter the race. The article says research by AP suggests Infantino already has about 90 pledged votes, though the final field is not yet set. Several potential challengers have been mentioned, including UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, CAF and CONCACAF-linked figures, and Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, though the story notes that some have ruled themselves out or are focused on other elections.

More broadly, the contest reflects an ongoing struggle over FIFA governance, transparency and the extent of Infantino’s power, with Europe seeking broader support across football’s global voting bloc.