Rival Candidate Planned for March Congress as Infantino Fights On
Gianni Infantino will seek a fourth term as FIFA president in 2027, rejecting calls to step down following the collapse of a controversial plan to sell private investment stakes in major tournaments. The governing body confirmed Sunday that the incumbent administrator intends to stand during the election cycle despite an opposition coalition formed by UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and CONCACAF.
UEFA Coordinates Global Block to Field Rival March Congress Nominee
The decision sets up an immediate governance conflict across international football federations ahead of the FIFA congress scheduled for March. UEFA has begun coordinating with continental allies to select and nominate a single unified candidate to challenge Infantino’s leadership following European threats of a tournament boycott that were only shelved after assurances the commercial sell-off proposal would be permanently abandoned.
The political friction comes as FIFA continues its current tournament schedule, with Infantino attending the Women’s Under-20 World Cup opening matches in Poland alongside Polish Football Association president Cezary Kulesza. UEFA and its partner confederations intend to finalize their opposition strategy prior to candidate nomination deadlines for the March congress.
“There will be a lot to say, but there will be a right place and a right time to say this. It’s not today, it’s not here, but here and today, we are enjoying football. We are continuing at Fifa, of course, to work to give every corner of the world a chance, an opportunity, a dignity, to find ways and means for them to become better and to participate and to celebrate football, which we all love.”
Reporting was delivered by PA Media and Sky News.