If football had a political thriller section, Gianni Infantino would be right at the centre of it. As he heads to Uefa’s annual congress in Brussels, the Fifa president isn’t just walking into another routine speech. He’s stepping into a room full of memories, grudges, and unfinished business that European football hasn’t forgotten.
The biggest elephant in the room remains Russia. Last year in Belgrade, Infantino floated the idea of easing Russia back into football, starting with youth teams. Now he’s doubling down. But in Europe, this isn’t even close to landing.
For most Football Associations, the idea feels detached from reality. Nothing has changed since the invasion of Ukraine, and Uefa knows reopening that door would split the room instantly. No vote is coming, no matter how much Fifa might want it.
Then there’s the United States and the World Cup. The panic of January has cooled, but the unease hasn’t vanished. Donald Trump still looms large over discussions, especially given Infantino’s openly warm relationship with him.
Talk of a boycott has faded, and countries like France have already made their position clear, with tensions now treated more as background noise than a trigger point similar to the debates explored in France Rejects World Cup Boycott Despite US Political Tensions.
Still, among Europe’s power brokers, the discomfort hasn’t gone away. It’s just gone quieter.
Infantino knows this. That’s why his tone matters more than his words. After famously turning up late to last year’s Fifa congress and prompting a Uefa walkout, he can’t afford another misstep. Brussels is less about decisions and more about signals.
On the other side stands Aleksander Ceferin, calm, entrenched, and very much in control. Despite past controversy over term limits, his grip on Uefa looks unshakeable.
The revamped Champions League has delivered drama, the women’s game is growing, and the Super League threat has been largely neutralised. From a footballing perspective, Uefa feels stable even confident.
But don’t mistake calm for peace. Club World Cups are getting bigger, formats will change again, and the power struggle between Fifa and Uefa is far from settled.
As debates around geopolitics, governance, and influence continue echoing questions raised in A World Cup boycott over Trump? the sense remains that football’s biggest flashpoints are still ahead of us.
For now, Brussels is just another chapter. The real drama is still loading.
