Gianni Infantino Announces FIFA Re-Election Bid for 2027

Gianni Infantino, president of world football’s governing organisation, has confirmed that he still plans to seek re-election next year despite the persistent controversy over his leadership.

The 56-year-old Swiss official declined to discuss his future when questioned by reporters at the Women’s Under-20 World Cup in Poland on Saturday. He is facing intense pressure to resign following an attempt to sell private investors stakes in major international competitions, including the World Cup.

European football’s governing body has been at the forefront of demands for Infantino to leave his position. The Asian confederation and Concacaf, which oversees football across North America, Central America and the Caribbean, have also expressed opposition.

However, since the proposal became public, the organisation has reaffirmed for the first time that Infantino intends to pursue a fourth and final term in next year’s election. If successful, he would remain in charge of global football until 2031.

A spokesperson for the organisation said: “The president confirmed in April that he would seek re-election in 2027, and that position remains unchanged. Mr Infantino will be a candidate.”

Concacaf president Victor Montagliani is considered the most likely person to challenge Infantino. Although the vice-president was previously viewed as one of Infantino’s closest allies, differences in their visions for the organisation had begun to emerge even before Montagliani opposed the abandoned proposal to introduce private investment into World Cup competitions.

Infantino continues to receive support from several influential parties. Saudi Arabia, which will host the 2034 men’s World Cup, backed him last month, while the governing organisations for African and South American football have also offered their support.

Infantino is currently the only confirmed candidate for the election scheduled for March 2027. To extend the presidency he began in 2016, he must secure a simple majority from the organisation’s 211 affiliated national federations. Nominations for the election must be submitted by 18 November.