Infantino remains in the race for FIFA’s top job despite criticism

Gianni Infantino will run for another term as FIFA president despite mounting criticism of his leadership and opposition from two major confederations.

FIFA confirmed that the Swiss official will seek re-election in March 2027. His spokeswoman said Infantino had already announced in April that he would stand again and that “nothing has changed” regarding his candidacy.

Infantino came under intense pressure after his controversial plan to open part of FIFA and the World Cup to private investors failed and was ultimately abandoned. In early August, amid anger over the proposal, he called an emergency meeting in Rabat. FIFA’s leadership and the Confederation of African Football backed him there.

UEFA and the Asian Football Confederation, however, have opposed his continued leadership of world football’s governing body. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, who has held the post since 2016, previously said he would not run for FIFA president in the next election. UEFA initially announced a boycott of all FIFA competitions under his leadership, including the World Cup, but later withdrew it as international youth tournaments approached. The European body continues to seek a different leader for FIFA.

Media reports have identified Canadian Victor Montagliani, president of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, as a possible main challenger. Concacaf recently joined UEFA and the Asian confederation in a statement opposing FIFA’s current direction. The election will take place in Rabat on March 18, 2027. Infantino is currently the only candidate and needs a majority of the 211 FIFA member votes to win another term.

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The FIFA president announced as early as April that he would run for re-election in 2027. Of course, nothing has changed in this regard.