FIFA is undergoing structural changes ahead of its presidential election scheduled for 2027.
İdman.Biz reports that FIFA president Gianni Infantino is preparing to seek a fourth and final term in the election, which will take place in Rabat, Morocco, on March 18, 2027.
According to RMC Sport, Infantino's position weakened during the summer over a plan to transfer part of the commercial rights to the World Cup to private companies. The project ultimately failed, while senior officials from UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC openly expressed their opposition to the FIFA president.
The French Football Federation is also reportedly preparing to withdraw its support for Infantino.
Against this backdrop, a new appointment within FIFA has attracted attention. According to The Guardian, former Rennes midfielder Gelson Fernandes has been appointed FIFA's director of member associations for the Caribbean.
The 40-year-old former Switzerland international will also retain his responsibilities for FIFA's African member associations.
Infantino's opponents believe Fernandes' new role could effectively allow Caribbean associations to be managed separately within CONCACAF, which brings together football associations from North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
The move has drawn particular attention amid CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani's increasingly open opposition to Infantino.
Montagliani is considered one of the potential candidates who could challenge Infantino in the 2027 FIFA presidential election.
