With five months to go until the FIFA presidential election, incumbent President Gianni Infantino seems to be in a comfortable position. The election is scheduled for March 2027. Despite concerns about his project to create a commercial company open to private investors, Infantino has managed to maintain his stance. The European football governing body, UEFA, and its president Aleksander Ceferin have been struggling to find a suitable candidate to challenge Infantino.
Ceferin had considered running against Infantino but decided not to, partly due to pressure from his allies to run for re-election as UEFA president. A potential candidate, Canadian Victor Montagliani, who is president of CONCACAF, was considered but has not yet announced his candidacy. Montagliani's possible bid may have lost momentum, and he may focus on seeking re-election as CONCACAF president in 2027 instead.
Another potential candidate, Qatari Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who is president of Paris Saint-Germain, ruled himself out of the running. He stated that he had no interest in the FIFA presidency. The Bahrain Football Association president, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, who lost to Infantino in 2016, is not considered a strong contender.
Infantino has been touring the world, gathering support and securing endorsements. A source close to FIFA expects Infantino to be re-elected, adding that the focus is on changing the governance system to limit his powers gradually. Infantino recently proposed reforms to the FIFA governance structure and promised a better distribution of funds to national associations.
Despite the lack of a credible challenger, UEFA continues to seek ways to oust Infantino. The organization has taken a legal approach, seeking documents from FIFA's US branches related to a shelved project to privatize the World Cup. This move may lead to a lawsuit against Infantino for alleged mismanagement.
Former football star Michel Platini predicted that Infantino's fate would not be decided by football authorities but by the courts. Platini stated that if UEFA wants to remove Infantino, it would likely be through the courts. Infantino's position seems secure for now, but the dynamics may change in the coming months.
The election is set to take place on March 18, 2027, in Rabat. Infantino's re-election seems likely, but UEFA's efforts to challenge him may continue. The outcome will depend on various factors, including the emergence of new candidates and developments in the governance reform process.
Key points
- Infantino's re-election seems likely due to the lack of strong challengers.
- UEFA continues to seek ways to oust Infantino through legal means.
- The FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March 18, 2027, in Rabat.
