FIFA President Gianni Infantino intends to seek re-election in 2027, a FIFA spokesperson confirmed on Sunday. This decision comes after questions surrounding his leadership, particularly following the collapse of his proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
"The FIFA president announced in April that he will stand for re-election in 2027," the spokesperson stated. "Of course nothing has changed. Mr. Infantino will be standing for reelection."
Infantino, who was widely expected to run unopposed before the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan and the subsequent opposition it generated, now faces a potentially contested election. UEFA, the governing body for European football, has publicly supported the idea of a contested election. Several national federations have also expressed a lack of confidence in Infantino's leadership, although some of these positions have shown signs of shifting.
Despite UEFA's continued vocal opposition, which persisted even after a threatened boycott of the Women's U-20 World Cup was averted, Infantino has secured public backing from key nations such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The South American (CONMEBOL) and African (CAF) confederations have largely remained supportive.
To secure another term, Infantino requires a majority from FIFA's 211 member associations. The deadline for nominations to run against him is November 18, with the FIFA Congress scheduled to convene on March 18 in Rabat, Morocco.
If Infantino secures a fourth term, he would extend his presidency through 2031. Potential challengers have been discussed, including Victor Montagliani, president of CONCACAF and a FIFA vice president. Nasser Al-Khelaifi, president of Paris Saint-Germain, was also considered a potential candidate, but Qatar's endorsement of Infantino appears to have removed him from consideration. As of now, no candidate has officially been nominated to run against the incumbent president.