Infantino's Tenure Under Threat: FIFA Election, Challengers, and Key Dates
Hafsa Adil
FIFA President Gianni Infantino is under mounting pressure as criticism grows and his World Cup privatization plan was scrapped. The next FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March 2027, with potential challengers emerging. Infantino is racing to secure support for an unprecedented fourth term.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, widely regarded as the most powerful figure in world football, is fighting to maintain his position amid a rising wave of criticism and calls for his resignation. The 56-year-old leader has overseen FIFA for over a decade, but he is seen as a controversial figure due to his close ties with global leaders and plans to maximize revenue from football.
With just over six months until the next election for the FIFA presidency, Infantino appears to be losing support from national associations and regional confederations that once backed him.
Why is Infantino being challenged?
Though never broadly popular among fans, Infantino once enjoyed the backing of many top football figures and global leaders. However, this support has waned significantly in recent months, especially after he publicly forged close ties with U.S. President Donald Trump and unveiled plans to privatize the World Cup to maximize revenue.
Infantino first met Trump at the White House in 2018 after the U.S. was awarded the hosting rights for the 2026 World Cup. Since then, he has appeared publicly with the U.S. president on several occasions, most recently at the peace summit in Egypt in October 2025.
He faced intense backlash in December when he awarded the first FIFA Peace Award to President Trump during the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington, D.C. The situation worsened when he invited private investors to buy stakes in future World Cup profits, with an investment group led by Joshua Kushner, brother of Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The ensuing backlash forced Infantino to scrap the plan, but his reputation has been severely damaged. He is now in a race against time to secure support for his bid for an unprecedented fourth term.
Term limits for FIFA president
According to the rules, the FIFA president can serve a maximum of three terms, each lasting four years. However, in 2022, Infantino successfully argued that his first term, which began in 2016 after Sepp Blatter resigned, should not count toward this limit because it was a partial term. His plan to run for a fourth term is being questioned by human rights groups and critics, who are urging FIFA's Governance, Audit, and Compliance Committee (GACC) to block it.
FIFA election timeline
The next vote for the FIFA presidency will take place at the general assembly on March 18, 2027, in Rabat, Morocco. Candidates must declare their candidacy by November 18. The vote will involve all 211 member associations, with 106 votes needed to win.
Potential challengers to Infantino
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has said he will not run, and no one has publicly declared an intention to challenge Infantino. However, several regional confederation leaders and powerful figures in world football are mentioned as potential candidates:
- Victor Montagliani, president of CONCACAF (North, Central America, and Caribbean)
- Nasser al-Khelaifi, president of the European Club Association (ECA) and PSG chairman
- Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)
- Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF)
Infantino's response
The FIFA president is urgently seeking support and continues to appear publicly despite advice to keep a low profile. He was advised not to attend a youth football event in the Caribbean, but he still posted photos on Instagram of meeting with Dominican Republic political and football officials.
In a statement, Infantino said: “It is important to engage, to dialogue, to express opinions – a lot has happened in recent weeks, and it's important that you are heard and can express your feelings.”
He recently made a public appearance in France, attending the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup in Paris, sitting alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Who is supporting Infantino?
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) still stands behind Infantino, with its highest decision-making body voting to back the FIFA president. Mexico and Argentina have also voiced support, while CONMEBOL issued a statement rejecting any efforts to oust Infantino without a vote by all 211 members.
Upcoming FIFA tournaments
The FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup will kick off on September 5 in Poland. UEFA has stated that its member associations remain committed to boycotting FIFA tournaments, but the tournament will still proceed as planned.
