Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open because of a lingering right wrist injury, dealing another setback in his bid to return before defending his U.S. Open title later this month.

Tournament organizers confirmed the withdrawal Tuesday, extending the world No. 2’s absence from competition to more than four months and raising fresh uncertainty over whether he will be ready for the year’s final Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion has not played since the Barcelona Open in April.

Alcaraz defeated qualifier Otto Virtanen 6-4, 6-2 in the opening round but said he felt his wrist give way during the match.

Medical examinations later revealed the injury was more serious than initially believed, forcing him to pull out before his scheduled second-round match against Tomas Machac.

The injury abruptly ended his clay-court campaign and sidelined him for the Madrid Open, the Italian Open, where he was the defending champion, and the French Open, where he was seeking a third consecutive title. He also missed the entire grass-court season, including Wimbledon, marking the longest injury layoff of his season.

Cincinnati had been expected to mark Alcaraz’s return. The ATP Masters 1000 event, scheduled for Aug. 13-23, is where he captured the 2025 title after world No. 1 Jannik Sinner retired from the final because of illness. That victory helped propel the Spaniard to his second U.S. Open championship, adding to the title he first won in 2022.

Recent training videos posted on social media had fueled optimism that Alcaraz was nearing a comeback, but tournament director Bob Moran said the Spaniard is continuing to prioritize his recovery.

“We know Carlos is doing everything he can to get back to playing tournaments as soon as possible,” Moran said in a statement. “We wish him the best with his recovery and look forward to welcoming him back to Cincinnati in the future.”

The withdrawal leaves Alcaraz without any competitive hard-court matches before the U.S. Open unless he opts to play the Winston-Salem Open, an ATP 250 tournament beginning Aug. 23. The event represents his final opportunity to gain match fitness before the U.S. Open begins on Aug. 30, although he has not indicated whether he plans to enter.

Alcaraz remains on the entry list for the U.S. Open, where he will attempt to defend the title he won last year, but his participation will likely depend on how his wrist responds over the coming weeks.

Before the injury, Alcaraz had enjoyed another outstanding start to the season. He captured the Australian Open title by defeating Novak Djokovic in the final, becoming the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam. He followed that triumph with a title in Doha and reached the Monte Carlo Masters final before the wrist injury halted his momentum.

He compiled a 22-3 record before being sidelined and remains ranked No. 2 in the world behind Sinner.

While Alcaraz has been recovering, Sinner has strengthened his grip on the top ranking by successfully defending his Wimbledon title and increasing his Grand Slam tally to five. Alcaraz will also surrender the ranking points earned from last year’s Cincinnati championship after withdrawing from this year’s tournament.

His team has consistently favored a cautious rehabilitation rather than rushing his return, even as his training intensity has increased in recent weeks. Whether Alcaraz chooses to compete in Winston-Salem, heads straight to New York, or delays his comeback further will depend on the progress of his recovery.

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Beşiktaş will continue their bid to reach the UEFA Europa League league phase when they travel to the Czech Republic on Thursday to face Hradec Kralove in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie, with Vincenzo Italiano’s side looking to build on an impressive start to the new season.

Kickoff at Malsovicka Arena is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Türkiye time (5:00 p.m. GMT).

Beşiktaş arrive in the Czech Republic full of confidence after winning both of their competitive matches this season.

The Black Eagles advanced to the third qualifying round by defeating Danish club Midtjylland 3-0 on aggregate, securing a 1-0 home victory before completing the job with a commanding 2-0 win away.

Italiano has made an encouraging start since taking charge, with his side showing defensive solidity and attacking efficiency as optimism grows around the club’s revamped squad.

Hradec Kralove, however, have proven to be one of the surprise packages of the qualifying rounds.

The Czech side earned its place in the third round by eliminating Norway’s Tromso with convincing 3-1 and 1-0 victories, advancing 4-1 on aggregate.

David Horejs’s team has been particularly formidable at home, winning seven consecutive matches at FINEP Arena while conceding just four goals during that stretch.

The club is also dreaming of its first appearance in the main stage of a UEFA competition since competing in the 1995-96 Cup Winners’ Cup.

Trossard ruled out despite recent arrival

Much of the attention before kickoff has centered on new signing Leandro Trossard.

Beşiktaş had the option of adding the Belgian international to its UEFA squad up to 24 hours before the match if registration formalities were completed.

However, Trossard will not feature after recently returning from post-World Cup leave and only resuming training on Monday. Club officials determined he is not yet physically ready for competitive action.

His absence means Italiano will continue with the squad that comfortably dispatched Midtjylland.

Strong European pedigree

Summer signing Orkun Kökçü has quickly emerged as one of Beşiktaş’s most influential players.

The Turkish international scored twice in the previous round, opening the scoring with a long-range strike in the first leg before converting a penalty in the return match in Denmark. Milot Rashica added the other goal as Beşiktaş completed an unbeaten passage into the third qualifying round.

Thursday’s encounter will mark Beşiktaş’s 261st match in European competition.

The Turkish club has compiled a record of 99 wins, 50 draws and 111 defeats across its previous 260 European fixtures, scoring 351 goals while conceding 395.

It will also be Beşiktaş’s 131st away match in European competition. In its previous 130 road games, the Istanbul club has recorded 34 wins, 24 draws and 72 defeats, scoring 150 goals and allowing 245.

In the UEFA Cup and Europa League, Beşiktaş has played 135 matches, posting 59 victories, 25 draws and 51 losses while scoring 212 goals and conceding 180.

Familiar opponents

Beşiktaş has faced Czech clubs six times in European competition and owns a favorable record.

Its first meeting came against Slavia Prague in the 2002-03 UEFA Cup Round of 16, progressing despite losing the away leg after winning 4-2 in Istanbul.

The following season, Beşiktaş split two UEFA Champions League group-stage meetings with Sparta Prague, winning at home before losing away.

Its most recent meetings with Czech opposition came against Viktoria Plzeň in the 2010-11 Europa League qualifiers, where Beşiktaş advanced after a 3-0 home victory followed by a 1-1 draw in the return leg.

Hradec seek another upset

Hradec Kralove have carried last season’s momentum into the new campaign after finishing fourth in the Czech First League.

The club opened the domestic season with a 2-1 win over Pardubice before drawing 0-0 away to Bohemians, collecting four points from its first two league matches.

The attack has been led by Mick van Buren, Tom Sloncik and Ondrej Mihalik, who all scored during the second-leg victory over Tromso and are expected to spearhead another energetic performance against the Turkish visitors.

The return leg will be played in Istanbul on Aug. 13.

The winner of the tie will advance to the Europa League playoff round, where it will face the loser of the Dinamo Zagreb and Kauno Zalgiris matchup for a place in the league phase.

The losing side will drop into the UEFA Conference League playoff round and face the winner of the Panathinaikos and CSKA 1948 tie.

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Mohamed Salah received a hero’s welcome in Türkiye on Wednesday as the Egyptian superstar moved a step closer to completing a blockbuster free transfer to Trabzonspor, a signing widely regarded as the biggest in the club’s history and one of the most significant in Turkish football.

Hundreds of supporters packed Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport General Aviation Terminal to greet the former Liverpool forward after he arrived aboard a private jet wearing Trabzonspor’s iconic claret-and-sky-blue colors.

Fans chanted his name, waved club scarves and sang traditional songs as Salah acknowledged the crowd before leaving for medical examinations ahead of his expected unveiling in Trabzon on Thursday.

The 34-year-old appeared in a video released by the club while wearing his new jersey during the flight to Türkiye.

“Trabzon, are you ready? I can hear you. See you very soon,” Salah said before ending with Trabzonspor’s famous slogan, “Bize Her Yer Trabzon” (“Everywhere is Trabzon for us”).

Turkish television later showed Salah arriving in Istanbul wearing a jersey bearing the No. 61, the license plate number of Trabzon province, although reports have also suggested he could ultimately wear his familiar No. 11 shirt.

Club chairman Ertuğrul Doğan said the official signing ceremony is expected to take place Thursday in the Black Sea city.

The transfer represents a remarkable coup for Trabzonspor after Salah became a free agent following the end of his Liverpool career.

Despite attracting interest from Saudi Pro League clubs, Major League Soccer teams and several European sides, the Turkish club moved decisively after negotiations with Beşiktaş reportedly collapsed over financial terms, image rights, merchandise revenue and agent commissions.

Trabzonspor formally announced the negotiations through Türkiye’s Public Disclosure Platform (KAP), a move that immediately energized supporters and investors alike.

The club’s shares climbed approximately 6.5% following the disclosure, underscoring the commercial impact of signing one of world football’s biggest stars.

Multiple Turkish and international reports indicate Salah has agreed to a two-year contract through June 2028 worth around 17 million euros ($19.6 million) per season, with additional performance bonuses and a share of revenue from officially licensed merchandise bearing his name.

The agreement would make him the highest-paid player in Turkish football history.

The excitement surrounding Salah’s arrival has spread far beyond the airport.

Trabzon has embraced the signing with a festival-like atmosphere as thousands of supporters prepare to welcome him to the city.

Social media has been flooded with messages celebrating the move, while demand for season tickets has surged.

Local reports indicate nearly 10,000 additional season tickets have been sold over the past two days outside supporter group allocations.

“I think Salah will achieve great things,” supporter Yiğit Kanber said. “I hope he becomes the league’s top scorer and leads us to the championship.”

Another fan, Esma Cansu Bayraktar, described an emotional night before Salah’s arrival.

“We were so excited we couldn’t sleep,” she said. “He is a global football icon, and I believe he will add even more value to Trabzon’s growing international reputation. Coach Fatih Tekke has built a disciplined team, and I believe we can challenge for the title this season.”

Supporter Hayati Turhan called the transfer “a huge gain for Trabzon, Trabzonspor and Türkiye,” saying Salah’s arrival would place the city in front of a worldwide audience.

Even 95-year-old supporter Hemdiye, affectionately known as “Grandma Hemdiye,” shared the city’s optimism.

“With this effort, we’re getting closer to another trophy,” she said. “We’ve signed good players, and this is the year we can become champions.”

Salah leaves Liverpool after an extraordinary nine-year spell that cemented his place among the club’s greatest players.

He scored 257 goals in 442 appearances, making him Liverpool’s third-highest scorer of all time, while winning two Premier League titles, the Champions League, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup, two League Cups and the Community Shield.

His final season, however, proved challenging. Salah saw his playing time reduced, endured a public disagreement with then-manager Arne Slot and finished with 12 goals in all competitions after scoring 34 the previous campaign. He announced in March that he would leave despite having one year remaining on his contract, with both sides agreeing to end the deal early.

Rather than accepting lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia, Salah opted to remain in European football, where he will continue competing domestically and in UEFA competitions. Trabzonspor finished third in last season’s Süper Lig to secure a place in the UEFA Europa League playoffs and view Salah as the centerpiece of an ambitious project under manager Fatih Tekke.

The transfer also adds another milestone to Trabzonspor’s history.

Salah becomes the club’s 207th foreign player since its foundation and only the fourth Egyptian to wear the Trabzonspor jersey after Ayman Abdelaziz, Sayed Moawad and Trezeguet. He is also the 37th foreign signing made since Doğan became club president in March 2023.

Trabzonspor have signed players from 54 different countries throughout their history, with Brazilians accounting for the largest foreign contingent at 18. Previous marquee arrivals included Daniel Sturridge and Nicolas Pepe, but none carried the global stature of Salah.

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Fenerbahçe’s bid to reach the UEFA Champions League league phase for the first time resumes Wednesday when the Turkish giants host Austria’s Sturm Graz in the first leg of their third qualifying round at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, looking to build a home advantage before next week’s decisive return leg.

After edging Polish side Gornik Zabrze 2-1 on aggregate in the previous round, Fenerbahçe are now two ties away from ending one of the club’s longest European absences.

Sturm Graz arrive in Istanbul full of confidence after cruising past Scottish club Hearts 6-0 over two legs.

For Fenerbahçe, returning to Europe’s biggest club competition has become an annual objective that has repeatedly fallen short.

The Istanbul club have not appeared in the Champions League proper since the 2008-09 season, while their wait for another Turkish Super Lig title stretches back to 2013-14 after finishing runners-up for a fifth straight campaign last season, four times behind fierce rival Galatasaray.

New head coach Ismail Kartal has returned for another spell in charge with the responsibility of restoring both domestic and European success.

He began his latest tenure positively, guiding Fenerbahçe past Gornik Zabrze with a 1-0 home victory before securing qualification through a 1-1 draw in Poland.

The club will hope Kartal succeeds where recent managers fell short. Fenerbahçe were eliminated in the Champions League qualifying playoffs last season and now see this campaign as another opportunity to finally break back into Europe’s elite competition.

Home form offers additional encouragement. The Yellow Canaries are unbeaten in their last eight competitive matches at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, winning five and drawing three. Their last defeat at the venue, however, came in European competition, a heavy 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest in the Europa League knockout playoff round, providing another reminder of the fine margins on the continental stage.

Familiar opponents return

Wednesday’s meeting marks the third competitive encounter between Fenerbahçe and Sturm Graz.

Their previous meetings came in the third qualifying round of the 2017 Europa League. Fenerbahçe won the first leg in Austria 2-1 before securing progression with a 1-1 draw in Istanbul to advance 3-2 on aggregate.

Sturm Graz also have considerable experience against Turkish opposition.

Besides those two matches with Fenerbahçe, the Austrian side faced Galatasaray four times in European competition, defeating the Turkish champions 3-0 at home during the 2000-01 Champions League group stage before drawing 2-2 in Istanbul.

The clubs met again in the 2009-10 Europa League group stage, drawing 1-1 in Istanbul before Sturm Graz claimed a 1-0 home victory.

Wednesday’s match will be Sturm Graz’s seventh competitive fixture against Turkish opposition.

Austrian champions arrive in strong form

Sturm Graz reached the Champions League proper as recently as the 2024-25 season but were unable to progress beyond last season’s Europa League league phase.

Fabio Ingolitsch’s side have made an impressive start to this year’s European campaign, overwhelming Hearts with a 4-0 victory at home before completing the job with a 2-0 win in Edinburgh.

Although their momentum slowed slightly after opening the Austrian Bundesliga season with a 1-1 draw against WSG Tirol, Sturm Graz remain unbeaten in four competitive matches this season, recording three wins and one draw.

The visitors will also take confidence from their previous performance in Istanbul, where they earned a draw against Fenerbahçe despite ultimately losing the tie on aggregate.

Milestone night for Fenerbahçe

The match will be Fenerbahçe’s 303rd appearance in European competition.

In their previous 302 continental matches, the Turkish club have recorded 119 wins, 66 draws and 117 defeats, scoring 411 goals while conceding 424.

It will also be their 45th Champions League qualifying match. Fenerbahçe have won 16, drawn 14 and lost 14 of their previous 44 qualifiers, scoring 64 goals and conceding 51.

Brazilian forward Anderson Talisca has carried Fenerbahçe’s attacking threat in the opening weeks of the season.

The 32-year-old scored the only goal from a free kick in the home win over Gornik Zabrze before converting a penalty in the second leg, giving him both of Fenerbahçe’s goals in their two competitive matches this season.

Kartal will assess the fitness of Talisca and defender Nelson Semedo after both picked up minor knocks in Poland.

Summer signing Mason Greenwood is pushing for his first start after appearing as a substitute in both matches against Gornik, while World Cup winner N’Golo Kante is available again after returning to full training following an extended offseason break.

Kosovo striker Vedat Muriqi could make his long-awaited return after rejoining Fenerbahçe six years after leaving the club. A muscle injury kept him out of both matches against Gornik Zabrze, but the experienced forward has resumed training and is expected to feature against Sturm Graz.

If Muriqi plays, it will mark his first competitive appearance for Fenerbahçe since July 19, 2020, when he featured against Besiktas before departing the club.

Sturm Graz continue to deal with several injury concerns. Amady Camara remains sidelined with a thigh problem, while Luca Weinhandl, Otar Kiteishvili and Nelson Weiper also miss out after sitting out the Austrian Bundesliga opener.

Forward Szymon Wlodarczyk boosted his chances of starting after scoring against WSG Tirol, while defender Jeyland Mitchell is expected to return to the starting lineup after being rested at the weekend.

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Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez have once again become the focus of intense wedding speculation after reports claimed the longtime couple could finally marry in Portugal this week.

While multiple media outlets have published details of an alleged ceremony, neither Ronaldo nor Rodriguez has confirmed a wedding date, leaving the reports unverified.

The latest rumors gained momentum after the couple were photographed wearing eye-catching diamond rings during a private jet trip and while vacationing in Mallorca. Rodriguez also shared photos on social media featuring her engagement ring, prompting fresh speculation that wedding plans could be imminent.

Ronaldo and Rodriguez first met in Madrid in 2016 while she was working at a Gucci boutique and he was starring for Real Madrid. They made their relationship public the following year and have since built a family together. Rodriguez has played a central role in raising Ronaldo’s children, including Cristiano Jr., twins Eva Maria and Mateo, and the couple’s daughters Alana Martina and Bella Esmeralda. Their son Angel tragically died during childbirth in 2022.

The engagement became official in August 2025 after Ronaldo proposed. Rodriguez announced the news on social media with a heartfelt acceptance message alongside a photo of her massive oval-cut diamond ring, which jewelry experts have valued at several million dollars.

Later that year, Ronaldo revealed more about the proposal during an interview with Piers Morgan, saying he knew the time was right to ask Rodriguez to marry him.

“I will marry her because I believe the right time has come. Not just because she is the mother of my children, but because she is the person I love most in life.”

The Portugal captain also said at the time that he hoped the wedding would take place after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Portugal’s tournament ended in the round of 16, fueling expectations that the ceremony could follow soon afterward.

Initial reports from Portuguese media suggested the wedding would be held on Aug. 1 at the historic Quinta da Regaleira estate in Sintra. Those claims quickly unraveled after the venue remained open to tourists and scheduled public events proceeded as planned.

Spanish magazine ¡Hola! dismissed the reports, while a close associate of Rodriguez reportedly described the alleged wedding invitation circulating online as fake. Ronaldo added to the speculation by posting family vacation photos captioned “Ainda nao” (“Not yet”), seemingly signaling that no ceremony had taken place. His sister, Katia Aveiro, also said publicly that no wedding date had been set.

Attention has since shifted to Ronaldo’s hometown of Madeira.

According to reports from British tabloid The Sun and Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manhã, the couple are now rumored to be planning a ceremony on Aug. 8 at Funchal Cathedral, followed by a private reception at the luxury Savoy Palace hotel.

The reports claim sections of the hotel have been reserved for a private event, although no official confirmation has been provided by the couple, their representatives or the venues involved.

Madeira would be a fitting location given Ronaldo’s deep ties to the island, where he was born and maintains several business interests.

Despite the growing speculation, the only confirmed fact remains the couple’s engagement. Neither Ronaldo nor Rodriguez has announced a wedding date, venue or guest list, and previous rumors have repeatedly been denied or disproved.

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Gianni Infantino spent much of the past decade projecting complete control over world football, expanding FIFA competitions, growing revenues and facing down critics with little apparent political cost.

But just weeks after overseeing the successful conclusion of the first 48-team World Cup, the FIFA president finds himself confronting the most serious threat to his leadership since taking office in 2016.

What was intended to be a landmark financial initiative instead became a political disaster.

Infantino’s proposal to bring private equity investment into FIFA’s commercial operations collapsed within days after fierce resistance from confederations, national federations and senior figures inside FIFA itself.

Although the governing body formally abandoned the project, the fallout has continued to intensify, raising questions about whether the 56-year-old can recover enough support to secure another presidential term.

Vision unravels

The proposal, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), sought to separate the commercial and event management operations of FIFA’s biggest tournaments, including the men’s and women’s World Cups and Club World Cups, into a new commercial company valued at roughly $20 billion.

FIFA would have retained majority ownership while selling a minority stake of about 20% to 21% to private investors, raising an estimated $4.2 billion.

Infantino promoted the project as a way to dramatically increase football development funding. FIFA planned to distribute more than $10 billion to its 211 member associations during the next four-year cycle.

Associations supporting the proposal would have received a one-time payment of $20 million in early 2027, while regular development funding would increase from approximately $8 million to $20 million per cycle.

JPMorgan served as financial adviser, while the proposed lead investor was Thrive Eternal, an investment vehicle linked to Thrive Capital, the firm founded by Joshua Kushner, the younger brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump.

FIFA presented the proposal as a voluntary consultation designed to accelerate football development, particularly in emerging nations.

Critics, however, argued that the plan had been developed behind closed doors with minimal consultation before being unveiled alongside generous financial incentives that many viewed as an attempt to buy support.

Immediate opposition

Resistance emerged with unusual speed and unity.

UEFA led the opposition, declaring that the World Cup was “not FIFA’s to sell” and threatening to boycott FIFA competitions unless the governing body permanently ruled out private ownership of its flagship tournaments.

CONCACAF, despite having just co-hosted the expanded World Cup, also rejected the proposal. The Asian Football Confederation joined the opposition, while CONMEBOL demanded further explanations instead of endorsing the plan.

The backlash extended well beyond FIFA’s member associations.

Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino, former U.S. football president and former Goldman Sachs executive, resigned in protest, calling the proposal “a bad deal for FIFA’s Member Associations, a bad deal for football, and a bad deal for the long-term future of the game.”

FIFA Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour also publicly criticized the initiative, saying staff members had been kept in the dark during months of planning and describing it as “the project of one person.”

The public criticism from senior insiders proved especially damaging because it suggested the opposition was not limited to FIFA’s traditional critics.

Political connections fuel scrutiny

Much of the controversy centered not only on the proposal itself but also on its broader implications.

Critics questioned why FIFA’s most valuable commercial assets should be opened to private investors, while others raised concerns about governance, transparency, investor oversight and the long-term influence outside investors could exert over world football.

The involvement of Joshua Kushner’s investment firm intensified political scrutiny because of the Kushner family’s ties to Trump.

Infantino’s close relationship with the U.S. president had already attracted criticism during the World Cup. His decision to award Trump FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize and the controversy surrounding the suspension of U.S. striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban had already prompted ethics complaints and concerns among several federations.

Marketing strategist Terrence Burns, who advised successful World Cup host bids, said the issue extended beyond the legitimacy of the investment.

“Josh Kushner’s firm has a legitimate track record,” Burns said.

“But the association was always going to be read politically.”

He added that sponsorship and investment decisions are judged not only by the source of the money but by what that partnership represents publicly.

Swift retreat

As pressure mounted, FIFA abandoned the project less than a week after it became public.

Infantino acknowledged the proposal had “created divisions” that were no longer in football’s best interests and confirmed the initiative would not move forward.

He insisted FIFA remained committed to uniting the global game and pledged to rebuild relationships with stakeholders while continuing to expand football development around the world.

The withdrawal, however, did little to ease criticism.

UEFA welcomed FIFA’s decision but declared that Infantino had lost its confidence as well as the confidence of many within the football community. It described the proposal as an opaque backroom deal and called for a broad review of FIFA’s leadership.

England’s Football Association aligned itself with UEFA’s position, while CONCACAF and other voices also demanded greater accountability.

Instead of ending the controversy, the reversal reinforced the perception among many critics that Infantino had badly misjudged the mood of world football.

Long-standing criticism resurfaces

The episode revived accusations that FIFA has become increasingly centralized under Infantino.

Former UEFA president Michel Platini, who worked alongside Infantino during his time as UEFA secretary-general, has repeatedly accused his former colleague of concentrating too much power.

“Unfortunately Infantino has become more of an autocrat since the pandemic,” Platini told The Guardian earlier this year.

“I think he lost the game. There is less democracy than in Blatter’s time.”

Platini, who was cleared by Swiss courts after being prosecuted over a FIFA payment that effectively ended his own presidential ambitions, argued that Infantino had changed after taking charge of FIFA.

“He was a good No. 2, but is not a good No. 1,” Platini said.

“He worked very well at UEFA but he has one problem: he likes the rich and powerful people, the ones with money.”

From dominance to uncertainty

Until recently, Infantino appeared politically untouchable.

Since succeeding Sepp Blatter in 2016, he has overseen record commercial revenues, expanded both the men’s World Cup and Club World Cup, increased development funding and won reelection unopposed in 2019 and 2023.

The successful staging of the first 48-team World Cup seemed to further strengthen his position.

Instead, the failed investor plan exposed frustrations that had been building for years over FIFA’s governance, decision-making and relationship with its member associations.

Many observers believe the proposal failed because it was introduced without sufficient consultation, relied heavily on financial incentives to secure support and became entangled in political controversies surrounding its proposed investors.

Defining months ahead

Infantino remains FIFA president and has vowed to restore unity across the global game.

Whether he succeeds may determine not only his political future but also the direction of FIFA itself.

The next presidential election will take place in Rabat next March, with nominations closing on Nov. 18.