How FIFA Presidential Elections Work Amid Gianni Infantino's Crisis?

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is confronting the most serious political challenge of his leadership following widespread criticism of a failed proposal to sell stakes in the FIFA World Cup to private investors. Once anticipated to secure another uncontested term, the Swiss-Italian administrator now faces a competitive race for the 2027 FIFA presidential election amid mounting pressure from football associations globally.

The controversy has sparked renewed interest in the mechanics of FIFA presidential elections: who is eligible to run, and what it takes to unseat the current leader. The FIFA president is elected at the FIFA Congress, held every four years after each World Cup cycle. Each of FIFA's 211 member associations holds one vote, regardless of the nation's size or football influence, ensuring that major football powers have the same voting weight as smaller nations. Voting is conducted by secret ballot.

Election rules stipulate that if two candidates vie for the presidency, the winner needs at least 106 votes for a simple majority. If three or more candidates enter the race, the lowest-ranked candidates are eliminated in successive rounds until a majority winner emerges. In cases where only one candidate stands, FIFA rules permit election by acclamation, without a formal vote. This was the procedure for Infantino's re-elections in 2019 and 2023.

The voting power within FIFA is distributed across its six continental confederations: UEFA (55 member nations), CAF (54), AFC (46), Concacaf (35), OFC (11), and CONMEBOL (10). This distribution highlights that winning the FIFA presidency requires building broad global alliances, rather than solely relying on traditional European football powerhouses. The next election is slated for March 17, 2027, in Morocco. Although FIFA presidents are now subject to a three-term limit, Infantino's initial years were considered a completion of Sepp Blatter's unfinished term, potentially allowing him to serve until 2031 if victorious in 2027.