Gianni Infantino will stand for re-election as FIFA president in 2027, with the governing body insisting that “nothing has changed” despite mounting opposition to his leadership.
FIFA has confirmed that Gianni Infantino will seek another term as president next year, ending fresh speculation over his political future following weeks of intense pressure surrounding his leadership.
A FIFA spokesperson told Sky News that Infantino’s position remains unchanged after the 56-year-old declined to directly answer questions about his future while attending the opening of the FIFA Women’s Under-20 World Cup in Poland.
“The FIFA President announced in April that he will stand for re-election in 2027. Of course, nothing has changed. Mr Infantino will be standing for re-election.”
The confirmation means Infantino remains on course to seek a fourth term, which, if successful, would keep him in office until 2031. FIFA has previously confirmed his intention to contest the election at its 76th Congress in Vancouver in May.
Since becoming FIFA president in 2016, Gianni Infantino has overseen major reforms including the introduction of VAR at FIFA tournaments, expanded men’s and women’s World Cups, and a significant increase in development funding for FIFA’s 211 member associations.
Infantino faced questions about his position after arriving in Katowice for the Women’s Under-20 World Cup opener between Poland and Argentina.
The FIFA president did not directly address whether he had considered resigning or whether he remained committed to his re-election campaign.
Instead, he indicated that he would speak about the wider situation at another time.
“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.”
He also defended his ongoing work at FIFA, saying the organisation would continue trying to expand opportunities for football across the world.
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Infantino’s decision to continue his campaign comes at a particularly difficult moment for his presidency.
UEFA has led growing opposition to the FIFA president following the collapse of plans to sell stakes in FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors.
The proposal was abandoned after widespread backlash, with Infantino acknowledging that the plan had created divisions within football.
UEFA has since said it has lost confidence in Infantino, while the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF have also opposed his leadership.
The dispute has now moved into the legal arena, with UEFA seeking documents in the United States as part of efforts linked to a potential criminal complaint in Switzerland. FIFA, meanwhile, has described UEFA’s actions as a “smear campaign.”
UEFA is expected to totally end its threat to boycott FIFA competitions after receiving assurances that Gianni Infantino’s controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup and other major tournaments will not return. Photo Credit: Getty Images
Despite the growing opposition, Infantino currently faces no formally declared rival for the FIFA presidency.
Candidates must secure the support of at least five FIFA member associations, with the nomination deadline approaching in November.
That leaves the political battle within world football far from settled.
While several national associations have withdrawn their support for Infantino, he continues to retain backing from important parts of the football establishment, including influential federations in Africa and South America.
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Infantino first became FIFA president in 2016, succeeding the disgraced Sepp Blatter after the governing body was engulfed by its biggest corruption crisis.
Ten years later, he is preparing to fight for another term with his presidency facing perhaps its most serious political challenge yet. but at the same time, the message from FIFA is clearly that Infantino is not stepping aside.
The 2027 election will now become a major test of whether the opposition surrounding the failed World Cup investment plan can translate into enough votes to end his reign or whether Infantino can once again rally FIFA’s member associations behind his leadership.
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