FIFA president Gianni Infantino remains committed to standing for re-election amid renewed opposition to his candidacy after a botched plan to sell a stake in FIFA competitions to private investors, a spokesperson for the global soccer body said on Sunday.

On Thursday, FIFA accused UEFA of launching a smear campaign and argued that its opposition to the selloff was motivated by a desire to preserve European football's dominance.

Infantino, who has announced he will seek a fourth term in March 2027, has since faced calls to resign but retains support from the African and South American confederations.

UEFA has made no secret of its desire to remove Infantino, who had hoped to be re-elected unopposed for a fourth and final term next March after a highly successful World Cup.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has paid tribute to Lionel Messi following the Argentina great’s decision to retire from international football, calling his career “extraordinary” and praising the lasting impact he has had on the sport.

Since the World Cup, UEFA threatened to boycott FIFA tournaments until Infantino scrapped the FIFA Forward Enterprises plan to bring in private investment.

Saudi Arabia, the hosts of the 2034 men's World Cup, threw their its support behind FIFA chief Gianni Infantino on Thursday as he continues to face criticism over the collapse of the governing body's controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal.

A group of former international players, including World Cup winners and FIFA legends, called on Monday for immediate change at world soccer's governing body, saying its leadership under embattled President Gianni Infantino had been blinded by power.

UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin has said he is "not interested" in replacing Gianni Infantino, but has warned the under-fire FIFA president must either quit or face a leadership challenge in March.

Denmark's football association (DBU) has vowed to find a credible alternative to FIFA President Gianni Infantino in next year's election, declaring on Friday that it had lost confidence in the head of world soccer's governing body.

One of FIFA's vice presidents has withdrawn his support from the world football body's embattled president Gianni Infantino, saying the "unexpected dismissal" of critic Kevin Lamour was the "final straw".

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters says under-fire FIFA president Gianni Infantino pressed the "self-destruct button" over his botched plan to bring private investment into the World Cup.

A damaging split within Asian football deepened Tuesday as the region's top official hit back at a Qatari challenge over the confederation's move to join UEFA and CONCACAF in targeting FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

He was one of the highest-ranking FIFA figures to speak out against Infantino's proposal to sell stakes in competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors.

New Zealand Football became the latest FIFA member to withdraw support on Friday.

Trump's backing of Infantino contrasts with the response of US Soccer

The football federations of the United States and Canada -- two of the 2026 World Cup host nations -- on Monday backed a statement from three confederations criticising FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

"Leadership in football is not a possession. It is not about holding -- or demanding -- power to be held," they wrote.

Tabith's comments came after an international media report claimed that Bangladesh was among the countries supporting Infantino, who is seeking re-election as FIFA president in 2027.

FIFA on Saturday condemned "a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine" the world game's governing body and its president Gianni Infantino as the controversy over his now shelved private investment plan rumbles on.