Gianni Infantino's grip on the Fifa presidency, once considered unassailable, has been thrown into serious doubt following a turbulent fortnight that has exposed deep fractures across world football's governing bodies.
Just weeks ago, the Fifa boss appeared destined for an unopposed run at a fourth term in charge when the organisation holds its presidential election next March. Nearly all of Fifa's 210 eligible member associations had lent their backing to his campaign, with no serious rival in sight. Nepal, Fifa's 211th member, remains suspended and cannot vote.
That consensus has now collapsed in the wake of Infantino's shelved proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup and other Fifa competitions to private investors. The plan, since abandoned, has triggered a wave of criticism and prompted several nations to reconsider their allegiance.
An analysis by BBC Sport, mapping the stances of all voting members, suggests roughly 73 associations currently support Infantino, 124 oppose him, and 13 remain undecided — though the picture is described as fluid and likely to shift over the coming months.
The positions were determined through public statements, direct responses to BBC Sport, or inferred alignment with continental confederations. The rules of a Fifa election require a candidate to secure 106 votes for a simple majority in a two-way race, or two-thirds support in a first round involving three or more candidates, with a follow-up round decided by simple majority if needed.
The growing opposition crystallised on Monday when Uefa, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) issued a joint letter accusing Infantino and Fifa of eroding trust