FIFA has officially confirmed that Gianni Infantino will run for a fourth and final term in the presidential election scheduled for March 2027. Despite facing intense criticism regarding his short-lived “FIFA Forward Enterprise” (FFE) plan—which sought to introduce private investment into global football events—the governing body maintains that the 56-year-old Swiss official remains committed to his candidacy.
A FIFA spokesperson reiterated the president’s intentions, noting that his plan to stand for re-election was first announced in April and remains unchanged. If successful at the polls, Infantino would extend his leadership of world football until 2031. He has held the position since 2016, with his most recent term renewed in 2023. To secure another term, he requires a simple majority from the 211 affiliated member federations.
The FFE proposal sparked significant controversy in late July, drawing accusations of “criminal mismanagement” from UEFA. The European governing body led the initial opposition, at one point threatening to boycott all FIFA competitions, including the men’s and women’s World Cups, if the plan proceeded. While Infantino is currently in Poland for the Women’s Under-20 World Cup, he declined to comment on his political future when approached by journalists on Saturday.
Despite the friction with UEFA, Infantino retains support from several major confederations, including the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and North American body CONCACAF. Additionally, 2034 World Cup hosts Saudi Arabia, along with the African confederation (CAF) and South America’s CONMEBOL, have publicly backed him. While CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani is viewed as a potential challenger, he has not formally declared, and UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin has ruled himself out of the race.
As of now, Infantino remains the only declared candidate for the 2027 election. Any further contenders must submit their official nominations by the deadline of November 18. The report also notes that he will continue to serve as head of world football until 2031, should he be re-elected. The report also notes that montagliani, a FIFA vice-president, had long been regarded as a close ally of Infantino, but there were signs, even before he distanced himself over the now-scrapped plan to allow private investment into World Cups, that he viewed FIFA’s purpose somewhat differently to the Swiss.
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