FIFA President Gianni Infantino strengthens position amid restructuring

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is strengthening his position within the global football governing body through administrative restructuring and consolidating political support ahead of his reelection.

In a significant structural change, FIFA has separated the management of Caribbean nations from the rest of CONCACAF. The 21 Caribbean associations will now fall under a distinct administrative responsibility led by Zelson Fernandes, a former professional footballer and FIFA official considered a close ally of the current leadership. While FIFA states this move aims to foster football development in the region, critics suggest it may disrupt the internal balance of CONCACAF and weaken a unified front against Infantino's administration.

Simultaneously, Infantino appears to have secured the necessary support to pursue reelection, a shift from recent weeks when his position was viewed as precarious. Despite previous opposition from various confederations and European federations following a failed proposal to sell stakes in FIFA tournaments to private investors, his political network has proven resilient. Opponents are now reportedly shifting their strategy from attempting to block his candidacy to finding ways to limit his executive powers.