Gianni Infantino

Gianni Infantino is a Swiss-Italian football administrator who became FIFA president in 2016, succeeding Sepp Blatter. His tenure has featured expanded tournaments and recurring disputes over FIFA governance and human rights.

Sepp Blatter: Swiss football administrator who led FIFA from 1998 until his resignation in 2015. Infantino succeeded Blatter after FIFA’s 2015 corruption crisis forced a leadership transition.
FIFA World Cup expansion: The increase in the number of national teams competing in the FIFA World Cup finals. Infantino championed expansion from 32 to 48 teams, implemented for the 2026 tournament.
FIFA Ethics Committee: FIFA’s independent body responsible for investigating and adjudicating ethical breaches under its codes. Its investigations and decisions have tested the independence of oversight during Infantino’s presidency.
UEFA: The governing body for association football in Europe, responsible for continental competitions and national associations. Infantino built his administrative career at UEFA before campaigning for FIFA’s presidency.
Michel Platini: French football administrator and former player who led UEFA from 2007 to 2015. Platini’s disqualification from the 2016 FIFA election cleared the path for Infantino’s candidacy.
FIFA Club World Cup: FIFA’s international club competition, redesigned as a 32-team tournament beginning in 2025. The expanded competition became one of Infantino’s signature projects and a source of scheduling disputes.
FIFA presidential election: The election by FIFA member associations of the organization’s president. The 2016 election established Infantino’s mandate, while later elections renewed it without a rival candidate.
UEFA Champions League: UEFA’s annual club competition for leading European football teams. As UEFA general secretary, Infantino was closely associated with the competition’s commercial and organizational operations.
Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa: Bahraini football administrator who has served as president of the Asian Football Confederation since 2013. He was Infantino’s principal rival in the 2016 FIFA presidential election.
FIFA Forward Programme: FIFA’s development funding program for member associations and regional confederations. Infantino’s administration expanded FIFA’s development grants through this program.

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