Absurdly expensive tickets, poorly communicated and controversial competition reforms, and especially blatant favouritism towards the USA have further damaged Infantino's already problematic image.
A few days ago, news broke that the current president has lost the support of the English Football Association ahead of the November elections. Infantino will seek re-election for the 2027-2031 term, but this time he may face a significant rival from Europe. Significant, because the support of federations affiliated with UEFA carries weight.
PSG president or Legia president?
The natural favourite would be Aleksander Ceferin, but he plans to remain as UEFA president. Next in line after him is Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who rules with a firm hand at French giants PSG. Known for his wide-reaching influence, he is a prominent figure among the candidates.
The surprise is the next name on the list: Dariusz Mioduski, president and owner of Legia Warsaw. Among fans, his approval ratings could probably only be lower if the club were relegated. However, in the corridors of power, Mioduski is very well known.
So much so that he can count on the support of the Bosnian, Norwegian, Swedish, German, and Spanish football federations - according to a list provided by Ben Jacobs (TalkSPORT.com), who was the first to detail the recent scandal involving Donald Trump's intervention in a red card incident.
Interestingly, Mioduski does not have the support of the Polish FA (PZPN). The issue of strained relations on the domestic scene is well known, and the first choice of the Polish association is said to be the Qatari Al-Khelaifi. If he decides not to run, Poland will back the Legia president.
Could Infantino lose his position?
And outside of Europe? Victor Montagliani, president of CONCACAF, could be a key figure. The Canadian has declared his intention to remain in his current role, but his ambitions to lead FIFA are well known. The same goes for Patrice Motsepe from Africa's CAF. However, he is unlikely to run in 2027, instead waiting for his opportunity in 2031.
The open question remains whether Infantino's position is weak enough for him to be dethroned. UEFA opposes the planned further expansion of the World Cup to 64 teams, but for many other federations, this is like a promise of access to a tournament they have never been able to attend.
The current president knows how to make deals with partners and, despite the organisation's diminished credibility, voters may not see him as a liability. Candidates can be nominated until November 18th.