Infantino gained greater public prominence and faced renewed scrutiny during the summer World Cup hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Controversy surrounded the competition before it began, as some supporters, coaches and officials experienced delays or refusals when applying for US visas.
In May, Iran’s tournament base was relocated to Mexico after the United States indicated that it did not wish to host the team amid political friction between the countries.
Somali referee Omar Artan, one of the 52 officials selected for the event, was subsequently denied entry upon reaching Miami International Airport.
Fifa declined to step in on Artan’s behalf, explaining that immigration decisions were the responsibility of the host nation.
Once matches got under way, Infantino’s ties with Trump drew attention after the US president urged Fifa to reconsider Folarin Balogun’s one-game ban.
The US striker had been dismissed in the last-32 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, but he was permitted to play in the following round after Trump’s highly unusual involvement, prompting broad criticism.
The repercussions continued after the tournament, with Fifa launching disciplinary action against Argentina over the team’s conduct following its final loss to Spain and during the wider competition.
A disputed proposal to sell shares in Fifa’s leading tournaments caused Uefa members to support a boycott of future Fifa events and contributed to the departure of one of Infantino’s senior advisers.
Under the proposal, Fifa would have established a commercial subsidiary to manage its principal competitions, allowing outside investors to purchase ownership stakes.
Chief operating officer Kevin Lamour said Fifa’s administration had been misled about the initiative, while UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham argued that Infantino was not the right person to lead the organisation.
After two additional major confederations voiced opposition, Infantino confirmed that the proposal would be abandoned, acknowledging that it had caused divisions and no longer served its intended purpose.
Uefa issued a severe response, declaring that it no longer had confidence in Infantino’s leadership.
Despite these disputes, Infantino’s tenure has brought tangible benefits to numerous football nations worldwide, largely through increased financial support for the sport.
Some of the world’s smallest and least wealthy associations have received substantial assistance for infrastructure and development projects.
Fifa has also increased transparency by disclosing the pay of its leading executives and ensuring that its financial resources remain invested in football.
Having secured unopposed re-election in both 2019 and 2023, Infantino is now moving towards another election in 2027.
He remains eligible to seek another mandate, despite Fifa’s rules restricting presidents to no more than three terms.
Whether he ultimately chooses to do so remains uncertain.
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