Under FIFA’s own statutes, 20% of the world governing body’s members must file a written request to trigger an extraordinary congress. With 211 associations, that is 43 signatures. If they land in time, an emergency congress must be convened, and a simple majority of the votes cast would be enough to remove the president.
The calendar is the tighter constraint. According to the timeline now driving the crisis, September 23 is the last day a no-confidence motion can be placed on the agenda of an extraordinary congress fixed for November 23.
Miss the September date and the emergency route closes. Infantino’s opponents would then be left waiting for the ordinary presidential election in Rabat on March 18, 2027, with candidates required to declare by November 18.
Confederations do not deliver their members’ ballots
FIFA operates on a one-member, one-vote basis. Each of the 211 national associations chooses independently whether to sign the petition and, if it reaches a floor vote, how to cast its ballot. Confederations can lobby, endorse or criticise publicly, but they cannot bind their members. That distinction matters as the public map hardens.
Read also: Can Lamine Yamal make history? The 19-year-old closing in on Ronaldo’s Ballon d’Or record
CAF and CONMEBOL back the president
The Confederation of African Football, which counts 54 of FIFA’s 211 members, unanimously reconfirmed its support for Infantino at an executive committee vote late on Thursday, August 6. CAF president Patrice Motsepe framed his position in personal terms.
“I personally support Gianni Infantino. He’s loyal to Africa. I come from a background where when people have been loyal to you, you never stab them in the back.”
The 10-member South American confederation CONMEBOL moved the same way. Its president Alejandro Domínguez said publicly that “one cannot ignore the great work” carried out by Infantino, adding that “we must continue working for football through dialogue; it is not necessary to always agree.”
The Oceania Football Confederation’s executive committee followed suit after meeting in Fiji, though New Zealand later broke ranks and called for an independent review, citing concerns over FIFA governance, accountability and transparency.
Read also: Eden Hazard kicked him on live TV – now the former ballboy is set to make millions
Europe has held its boycott
UEFA is the pole of the resistance. Its 55 associations voted on July 30 to boycott all FIFA competitions in protest at Infantino’s now-abandoned $20 billion plan to sell stakes in the World Cup’s commercial rights to private investors. When Infantino dropped it, UEFA did not soften.
Norway’s federation president Lise Klaveness sharpened the tone this week after FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour was pushed out, calling the departure “unacceptable” and describing FIFA’s culture as “management by fear.”
CONCACAF and AFC harden opposition
CONCACAF and its 41 member associations issued its own statement on August 1, branding the World Cup scheme “a recent unilateral and egregious act of poor governance and leadership” and calling for “a comprehensive reckoning” with Infantino’s presidency. Mexico then broke ranks to back the FIFA president.
Read also: Ederson breaks silence after Man Utd pulled £38m deal: "The tests went well"
The Asian Football Confederation co-signed a separate joint letter accusing Infantino of deception. Jordan has been the loudest AFC member in publicly hardening the tone.
Even so, the visible “against” column on the Front Office Sports tracker falls short of the 43 individual signatures needed. Confederation-level criticism from UEFA and CONCACAF is not the same as filed petitions from named associations, which is why UEFA, which has separately warned FIFA of legal action, has kept the vote of no confidence open as an option without yet filing it.
The 34 days that decide it
Between now and September 23, the arithmetic has to move in one direction or the other. UEFA has not yet lodged the motion, and no other bloc has confirmed the 43 names. If the signatures do land, FIFA must convene an extraordinary congress on November 23; if they do not, the next scheduled test is the ordinary presidential election in Rabat on March 18, 2027, with candidates required to declare by November 18.
“`
Read also: Harry Kane breaks silence on uncertain Bayern future: "We'll talk about it"
Read also: Mourinho breaks silence on Real Madrid transfers: 'No, I did not ask for him'
