FIFA President Gianni Infantino gestures during his visit to the new Concentration Hotel of the Colombian Football Federation in Barranquilla, Colombia, on February 24, 2026. FIFA president Gianni Infantino came under renewed fire on August 10, 2026 as a joint letter from three confederations -- UEFA, CONCACAF and AFC -- declared football "belongs to no individual".

"First, I will ask the Council whether it wishes to commission an independent external review of FIFA’s current governance framework for major strategic initiatives and recommend potential improvements," Infantino wrote to the FIFA Council and all 211 member association ​ presidents in a letter seen by Reuters.

He also said he would propose consultations with confederations, member associations and other ​ stakeholders on strengthening FIFA's decision-making.

The proposals would examine who has a say in major initiatives, including the ⁠ respective roles of the president, Bureau, Council and Congress, and how to improve transparency and accountability.

His opponents have been struggling to find a candidate to challenge Infantino, who will be running for re-election in March in Rabat. Sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters this ​ month that he still had enough votes to win, prompting opponents to focus on curbing his powers.

But the proposal became public before it could be presented in full to the Council and member associations, according to Infantino.

"I recognise that, without the full context, this caused concern and created the impression that decisions had already been taken. They had not," he wrote in the letter sent on Monday.

"It remained a proposal, not a decision, and was always subject to ​ the necessary approvals of the ​ Council and the Member Associations. ⁠ It has now been withdrawn and will not proceed."

Infantino said he had heard differing ideas about who should decide major strategic questions. Some favoured requiring unanimous agreement in the Bureau, while others wanted ​ such matters put directly to Congress and the member associations.

Suggestions received by the October 15 Council meeting could be discussed there, with later submissions also considered within a deadline yet to be specified. Any changes to FIFA's statutes would need ⁠ Congress approval.

"No association’s treatment will depend on its position on any proposal or institutional matter," ​ he wrote.

"I remain fully committed to leading FIFA and confident in what we can achieve together."