Gianni Infantino will remain FIFA president after emerging from an emergency leadership meeting with the backing of the organisation’s top officials, despite mounting pressure for him to step aside.

The crisis talks followed intense backlash over the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, which drew criticism from football bodies, clubs, and several high-profile figures. Infantino acknowledged mistakes in how the controversial plan was managed but said the focus must now shift back to growing the global game.

Following the meeting in Rabat, Morocco, FIFA’s management board, and secretary-general Mattias Grafström reaffirmed their full support for the Swiss administrator, describing him as the democratically elected leader of world football. While Infantino has weathered this latest storm, opposition remains strong, with UEFA and other critics continuing to question FIFA’s governance.

The emergency meeting may have secured his position for now, but the road to the 2027 FIFA presidential election promises to be one of the most fiercely contested in recent history.