10 years at the top: Gianni Infantino’s decade of reinvention at FIFA | OneFootball

On February 26, Gianni Infantino marks ten years as FIFA president. From crisis management and commercial expansion to bold reforms, his tenure has reshaped world football’s most powerful institution.

When Gianni Infantino was elected FIFA president in February 2016, the organisation was on its knees. The image of football’s governing body had been dragged through the mud, battered by corruption scandals and criminal investigations. The once untouchable institution had become synonymous with backroom deals, opaque finances and systemic malpractice.

In 2015, the United States Department of Justice seized more than $200 million in assets linked to football officials and launched sweeping investigations that shook the foundations of global football governance. Senior executives were arrested. Offices were raided. Sponsors distanced themselves. FIFA was, for many, a symbol of dysfunction.

Infantino stepped into that vacuum promising reform, transparency and a fresh start. Ten years later, the contrast is stark. Today, the FIFA president is received at the White House rather than defending his organisation against U.S. prosecutors. The optics alone tell a story of regained institutional confidence and restored political leverage.

From crisis to commercial powerhouse

Infantino’s first task was survival: stabilise the institution, reassure sponsors and reassert FIFA’s global authority. By most financial measures, he has succeeded. Under his leadership, FIFA has posted record revenues, with expected income surpassing 11 billion USD in the cycle leading up to 2026. The organisation has rebuilt reserves, expanded commercial partnerships and broadened its global footprint.

Yet even critics concede that FIFA’s economic stability today stands in sharp contrast to the existential uncertainty of 2016. For many member associations, particularly outside Europe, Infantino’s tenure has meant increased funding and greater inclusion.

A global development agenda

One of the defining pillars of his presidency has been redistribution. Infantino has repeatedly emphasised investment in developing football nations. It is reported that more than 1.2 billion USD has been directed into African football alone, with infrastructure programs, youth academies and federation support schemes designed to close structural gaps.

The youth game has also expanded significantly. More tournaments at U-17 and U-20 levels have been introduced or strengthened, offering broader exposure for emerging talent. For smaller federations, these platforms are not merely sporting opportunities but economic and social ones.

Supporters view this as a democratisation of global football governance - an attempt to shift the balance of power away from traditional strongholds. Others counter that increased funding has also consolidated Infantino’s political base among FIFA’s 211 member associations, many of whom benefit directly from the new financial streams.

Women’s Football: Growth and symbolism

Perhaps the most visible sporting transformation during his decade has been the rise of the FIFA Women's World Cup. Attendance figures, broadcast deals and global reach have grown dramatically. The 2023 edition marked a milestone in exposure and commercial relevance.

Infantino has positioned gender equity as a flagship policy, pushing for equal conditions across all major FIFA competitions - an unprecedented move in global sport. 

The women’s game’s expansion did not happen in isolation; it reflected broader societal shifts and the commercial appetite of broadcasters and sponsors. Still, FIFA’s central backing and institutional commitment were critical accelerators.

Bigger, bolder, riskier

Infantino’s most transformative legacy may lie in tournament expansion. The FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature 48 teams instead of 32, the largest edition in history. What was initially mocked as dilution is now framed as inclusion.

For nations like Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan or Uzbekistan, qualification pathways have become tangible. Scotland, absent from the tournament since 1998, may re-enter the global stage. For fans in emerging football markets, the dream feels closer. Commercially and politically, the move has broadened FIFA’s relevance.

The same philosophy underpins the revamped FIFA Club World Cup, expanded into a major global event. Designed to rival continental club competitions in prestige and financial clout, it reflects Infantino’s ambition to position FIFA - not confederations - as the ultimate authority in club football.

Consolidated power

Infantino’s political standing within FIFA is undeniable. He was re-elected in 2019 and again in 2023 without opposition. Because his initial term (2016–2019) does not count as a full mandate under FIFA statutes, he could remain in office until 2031.

The central tension of his presidency lies here: has FIFA become more stable and globally representative - or simply more efficiently centralised?

Reputation rebuilt

Infantino has undoubtedly shifted the narrative. FIFA no longer dominates headlines for FBI raids or mass indictments. Instead, discussions revolve around commercial innovation, tournament reform and geopolitical diplomacy.

Still, measured against the chaos of 2015 and early 2016, the transformation is significant. FIFA today operates from a position of strength - financially robust, politically connected and commercially expansive.

As Infantino marks a decade in office, his tenure defies simple categorisation. He inherited the crisis and delivered growth. He expanded opportunity and intensified commercialisation. He rebuilt trust in some quarters while attracting new critics in others.

What is clear is this: the FIFA he took over in 2016 is not the FIFA of 2026.

Whether history judges his era as visionary reform or calculated consolidation will depend on how the next chapters unfold. For now, ten years on, Gianni Infantino stands as one of the most consequential figures in modern football governance.

📸 Alex Wong - 2026 Getty Images