It’s been a controversial summer for FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who is now at risk of losing his job after a series of questionable decisions.

The 56-year-old drew criticism ahead of the 2026 World Cup due to his close relationship with United States President Donald Trump. Even those within FIFA were said to be embarrassed as Inaftinao handed Trump the Peace Prize.

The outrageous call to then rescind Folarin Balogun’s red card during the tournament did not help, but Infantino’s biggest mistake came after the World Cup, when it became apparent that he wanted to sell off shares in the FIFA competition. As a result, UEFA have declared a loss of confidence in Infantino, with many nations withdrawing support for the current president ahead of the 2027 elections.

Vincent Kompany Backed as Next FIFA President

With Infantino’s future in doubt, a few names have been suggested in the media as possible candidates to run for FIFA president. Perhaps the most exciting name yet has now emerged with Toby Alderweireld tipping a four-time Premier League winner for the job.

Indeed, the former Ajax and Tottenham Hotspur star has suggested his old Belgian teammate Vincent Kompany would be ideal to take over from Infantino. As quoted by FourFourTwo, Alderweireld explained:

It’s interesting to note that Alderweireld expected Kompany to take on a more administrative role within football, as opposed to becoming a coach. However, still only 40 years old, the former Manchester City captain has quickly established himself as one of the best young managers in the game, working for Anderlecht and Burnley before taking on his current role at Bayern Munich.

Alderweireld: ‘Next FIFA Boss Must Be Someone Who Played the Game’

Names like Aleksander Ceferin, Patrice Motsepe, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, Lise Klaveness, Dariusz Mioduski, Mattias Grafstrom, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Victor Montagliani have been touted as possible challengers for Infantino, but Alderweireld has explained what he is looking for in the next FIFA boss.

“It’s very important that the FIFA president is someone who played the game and knows the game,” the former Belgium centre-back said. “We’ve all been a fan. Then we’ve become a football player. We know both sides. When I was a child, I went to all the away games on the bus. We’re not just people who made good money out of playing in the Premier League and Champions League.

“We’re football fans too. We played the game. We know how it is. What it is to be a player and a fan. The one thing that’s very important is that the person who’s doing the talking should be a football guy because look at the World Cup. A 20-minute show at half-time? That’s where you need someone who knows football to say no.

“The most beautiful thing about the sport is its traditions. New things have their place too but we need to protect the traditions as well and that’s why you need football players, football people who have been around the game, to keep the businessmen in check.”

As things stand, Kompany has a contract with Bayern until 2029 and, having won the Bundesliga twice in his first two seasons, it remains unclear but feels unlikely that he would have any interest in stepping away from management to run for FIFA president at any time soon.

UEFA’s new plans to remove Gianni Infantino from his role as FIFA president have emerged this week, with the sixth and final confederation now issuing a statement about the 2026 World Cup’s arch villain.

It has long been known that Aleksander Ceferin and some of Europe’s biggest football powers – such as England and Germany – have wanted the Swiss millionaire removed from his position following a failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup.

But with a FIFA meeting concluding that Infantino will hold on to power until March’s important election adjudges otherwise, the 56-year-old’s position is safe for now. Nations have withdrawn written support, while UEFA have looked at other candidates they could put forward.

As progress on getting the 56-year-old out of office has stalled in recent weeks, seemingly seeing the conversation around the World Cup die down, the confederation has now drawn up new ideas to get their plan back up and running.

UEFA’s Two New Ideas For Changing FIFA’s Leadership Revealed

REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Senior figures from European football convened in Salzburg this week for a series of pivotal discussions over the FIFA governance crisis, with the UEFA Super Cup providing the backdrop for high-level diplomacy. UEFA president Ceferin and European Football Clubs chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi were photographed together as the latter’s Paris Saint-Germain defeated Aston Villa 2-1 on Wednesday evening.

From the meeting, as per GOAL, it has emerged that UEFA’s ambitions extend well beyond simply changing the personnel at the top of FIFA. The European body is exploring a fundamental reimagining of the presidency itself.

One proposal would see the role rotated between the continental confederations, mirroring models used by multinational institutions such as the European Union. This would ensure no future occupant could amass the level of authority wielded by Infantino or his predecessors.

An alternative under consideration would abolish the presidential title altogether, replacing it with a chairman of the board supported by multiple vice-chairs, in an effort to strengthen institutional oversight. Both options would be backed by a significantly enhanced administrative apparatus, functioning along similar lines of a civil service.

UEFA also favours a clear separation of FIFA’s commercial, operational and regulatory functions – a direct rebuke to Infantino’s drive to consolidate those divisions under a partly privatised subsidiary.

Oceania Issue Statement Revealing Gianni Infantino Stance

REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

The OFC, football’s smallest confederation with 11 full members, has said the region had benefited from FIFA’s leadership after discussing the private investment plan at a meeting on Wednesday, revealing their support for the current president.

“The OFC Executive Committee welcomes FIFA’s decision to withdraw the FFE (FIFA Forward Enterprise) proposal and its commitment to review the issues surrounding the project,” the OFC said in a statement, as per The Standard.

However, New Zealand, the only Oceania nation to qualify for this summer’s World Cup, said it had withdrawn support for Infantino’s reelection bid at next year’s FIFA Congress (as seen above). “In addition, NZF (New Zealand Football) is also seeking an independent review of the steps undertaken to develop the FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme,” it said.

“After careful consideration, NZF has formed the view that decisions and actions within FIFA have contributed to a breakdown in trust and increased division within international football, and that an independent review is required to restore confidence and trust.”

Jessica Bang, one of golf‘s brightest young prospects, has sadly died at just 18 years old, the WPGA Tour has confirmed.

Bang won her first professional event earlier this year during just her fifth ever entry on the tour.

The Australian golfer suffered a brain haemorrhage while preparing to compete in Thailand, collapsing on the 1st of August as she was getting ready for the KLPGA Tour’s International Qualifying Tournament.

The teenager was rushed to Synphat Ramintra Hospital in Bangkok, where she underwent emergency brain surgery before being placed on life support.

But after two weeks of fighting, Bang died at 7:20am local time on Thursday, according to an update shared by her family.

Members of Bang’s family had started a fundraiser during her fight following surgery, hoping to help aid the cost of her medical bills and organise a return to her family back in Australia.

Yesterday, however, they shared the heartbreaking news of Bang’s passing.

Statements Made After Jessica Bang’s Death

An update on the page by organiser Janette Yoon read: “We are truly heartbroken by this news. However, we would like to continue to remember Jessica and celebrate her achievements, passion, and dedication to golf.

A total of almost $50,000 AUD (£26,150) had been raised to go to her family to help with medical costs, with donations continuing to pour in following the devastating news of Bang’s passing.

A WPGA Tour of Australasia statement read: “The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the WPGA Tour of Australasia and the broader Australian golf community are with Jessica’s family, friends, and all those who knew and loved her at this incredibly difficult time.”

Born in South Korea, Bang became an Australian citizen just after her 18th birthday.

She captured the 2026 Ford Women’s NSW Open Regional Qualifying Event at Moss Vale Golf Club in February, closing with an 8-under-par 65. The round established a course record, and her mother acted as her caddie throughout.

“I’m so happy, I can’t even put it into words,” Bang told Golf Australia Magazine after the victory. “It still doesn’t feel real yet. I did not expect this at all – big surprise.”

Months later, these words take on a poignant meaning, serving as a heartbreaking reminder of a young career that promised so much before being tragically cut short.