The war for the future of FIFA is no longer fought only in conference rooms, nor is it judged solely by the votes of its 211 federations. It is being transferred to the courts, to the big law firms and to a world where football meets politics, billions and global power.

And within this setting, two names acquire special significance: Mario Galavotti and Alex Spiro.

The first is the man who for years preferred to remain in the shadows. The 70-year-old Italian lawyer has been by Gianni Infantino’s side for almost two decades and is now presenting himself as much more than a simple legal advisor. He is, according to Politico, the one who takes on the delicate missions when football ceases to be just football and becomes politics.

Galavotti was there when Infantino was building relationships with powerful political leaders. He was also behind the scenes in the contacts with Saudi Arabia, and is credited with playing a central role in shaping FIFA’s commercial relationship with Riyadh. In 2021, he officially moved to the president’s office as a senior advisor. A former senior official described their relationship in vivid terms: Galavotti “took charge” when Infantino was away.

In the summer of 2026, however, the shadow came to light. The “FIFA Forward Enterprise” plan, which envisaged the entry of private capital into a commercial structure linked to FIFA and World Cup assets, caused a political earthquake. According to the material, Galavotti was the one who privately conveyed key elements of the proposed agreement to specific individuals.

Now, UEFA is facing him, which is trying to open all the drawers of the case. And then the second protagonist appears. Alex Spiro.

He is no ordinary lawyer. He is one of the most recognizable lawyers in the United States, a partner at Quinn Emanuel, with clients that have included Elon Musk, Jay-Z, Alec Baldwin, as well as NBA and NFL stars.

Joshua Kushner and Thrive Capital have now chosen him for the big clash with UEFA. The company had been in secret talks with Infantino about the controversial commercial entity that could be linked to up to 20% of the commercial power of the World Cup.

UEFA has already moved three American courts, requesting information about the FFE, while it is also seeking court orders involving JP Morgan and Greg Maffei. The crux of the potential criminal battle, however, leads to Switzerland, where FIFA is headquartered.

Thus a strange chessboard is created. On the one hand, Mario Galavotti, the quiet Italian who knows the corridors of football and political power like few others. On the other, Alex Spiro, a lawyer trained to defend billionaires and celebrities who live in the blinding light of publicity.

And at the center is Gianni Infantino. The case is no longer simply about a commercial exploitation plan. It's about who decides the wealth of world football, who knows what goes on behind closed doors and how far power can go without being held accountable.

Infantino is preparing to fight to stay at the top of FIFA. Only this time, before the polls open, the court files have already been opened.