Gianni Infantino announces bid for re-election as FIFA president in 2027

Gianni Infantino plans to seek another term as FIFA president in 2027, despite mounting pressure over a failed investor plan and opposition from UEFA.

A FIFA spokesperson confirmed that Infantino’s April announcement remained unchanged. It was the first time since the scandal over his post-World Cup investment proposal that FIFA had stated clearly that he would run for a fourth term.

Infantino’s plan to sell FIFA competitions to private investment companies provoked international outrage. UEFA threatened to boycott all FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, and other continental confederations joined the opposition. Although the proposal has now been dropped, Infantino remains controversial.

UEFA wants to prevent his re-election at the FIFA Congress next March. Its president, Aleksander Čeferin, is among Infantino’s strongest critics, although the Slovenian has said he will not challenge the 56-year-old president himself. Candidates can apply until November 18.

Infantino has led FIFA since 2016. Before the opening of the Women’s Under-20 World Cup in Poland, he avoided a direct answer when asked whether he would definitely stand. He smiled, left the group and raised his thumb. He watched Poland beat Argentina 3-0 in the opening match in Katowice.

UEFA is also preparing criminal proceedings over the investor deal on suspicion of breach of trust in business management. The allegation concerns a person entrusted with managing another party’s assets or affairs violating those duties and causing financial damage to the organisation involved.

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The FIFA president announced in April that he would stand for re-election in 2027. Of course, nothing has changed.