Gianni Infantino's bid to extend his FIFA presidency may depend less on repairing ties with football's traditional powerhouses than on retaining the backing of the many smaller and emerging nations that have benefited from the governing body's financial support.
The FIFA president is facing the most serious challenge of his decade in charge after UEFA and CONCACAF declared they no longer had confidence in his leadership following the collapse of a controversial proposal to bring private equity investment into the World Cup.
Although Infantino has confirmed he will seek a fourth term at next year's FIFA Congress in April, pressure on his leadership could intensify well before delegates head to the polls.
On Monday, Wales became the first national federation to formally withdraw its support for Infantino. UEFA also confirmed it had written to the 56-year-old Swiss official to notify him that it was considering legal action over the abandoned private equity proposal.
His opponents also have a path to challenge his leadership before the election. Under FIFA statutes, an Extraordinary Congress can be convened if at least 20% of FIFA's 211 member associations submit a written request.
