Infantino, who is 52 years old and holds both Swiss and Italian citizenships, became the head of FIFA in 2016 after succeeding Sepp Blatter, who was ousted amid a corruption scandal. He ran unopposed for re-election in 2019 and again this year, extending his term until 2027.
In his speech to the congress of 211 member federations, Infantino touted FIFA's achievements under his leadership, such as increasing revenues, reserves and investments in soccer development. He also highlighted FIFA's role in tackling global issues such as racism, discrimination and human rights.
"It is an incredible honor and privilege, and a great responsibility," Infantino said. "I promise to continue serving FIFA and football around the world."
Infantino also defended his controversial plans to expand some of FIFA's competitions, such as the World Cup and the Club World Cup. He argued that more games would benefit more countries and regions, especially those that are traditionally underrepresented or marginalized in soccer.
"We need more," he said. "We need more Africa. We need more Asia. We need more Oceania. We need more CONCACAF (North America). We need more South America."
Infantino's re-election was not without criticism from some quarters. Some European members of FIFA expressed their dissatisfaction with his governance style and his lack of consultation with stakeholders. They also questioned his integrity and transparency amid ongoing investigations into his conduct by Swiss authorities.
Miguel Maduro, a former member of FIFA's Governance Committee who was removed by Infantino in 2017, told DW that Infantino's re-election was not democratic or legitimate.
"He runs unopposed and actually changed the rules to make it possible to stay in power even for longer times: certainly we would not call that a democracy," Maduro said.
Maduro also challenged Infantino's focus on financial performance as a measure of success for FIFA. He said there were more important issues for soccer that needed attention, such as ensuring fair competition, protecting integrity and promoting social responsibility.
"What matters is how you use those resources," Maduro said. "How do you make football more balanced in terms of competition? How do you protect the integrity of sports?"
Infantino will face many challenges and opportunities in his next term as FIFA president. He will oversee the first World Cup with 48 teams in North America in 2026; he will try to push through his plans for an expanded Club World Cup; he will deal with the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic; he will navigate the complex political landscape of global soccer; and he will try to restore trust and credibility for FIFA after years of scandals.