Fifa president Infantino will stand for re-election
September 6, 2026 13:01
Fifa has confirmed that president Gianni Infantino will seek another term, saying he will stand for re-election in March. The governing body’s statement also recalled an announcement made in April that Infantino intends to run again in 2027.
The confirmation follows a period in which Infantino declined to answer questions about his future at the Women’s Under-20 World Cup in Poland, and comes after Fifa dropped a controversial plan to sell stakes in its competitions that had prompted international criticism.
KEY CONTEXT
Infantino has led Fifa since 2016. His proposal to sell equity stakes in Fifa competitions was withdrawn after drawing widespread opposition; European governing body Uefa threatened to boycott Fifa events, including the World Cup, over the idea. Several national associations — including the Football Associations of England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland — publicly withdrew their support after the plan was revealed.
Tensions between the organisations have spilled into legal action: Uefa has filed papers in the United States seeking disclosure from Fifa and warned it could pursue a criminal complaint in Switzerland. Fifa in turn has accused Uefa of conducting a “smear campaign” against it and its leadership.
WHY IT MATTERS
The episode has transformed what was, as recently as mid-July, widely seen as an uncontested path to re-election into a more uncertain contest. Loss of backing from influential European associations and the open legal dispute with Uefa increase the political and reputational stakes around the election.
Electoral rules also matter: any challenger must secure the endorsement of at least 106 of Fifa’s 211 member associations to stand, a substantial threshold that will shape whether a viable opponent emerges.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Whether a formal challenger is nominated in time for the March election; BBC Sport reports that Uefa believes a candidate can be found but none has been named.
- How the legal exchanges between Uefa and Fifa develop, including the US disclosure request and the possibility of further action in Switzerland.
- Whether any national associations that withdrew support will change their positions before the vote.
KEY FACTS
- Gianni Infantino has been Fifa president since 2016.
- Fifa says Infantino will stand for re-election in March; its statement referenced an April announcement that he will run in 2027.
- The scheme to sell stakes in Fifa competitions was scrapped after global opposition and a threatened Uefa boycott.
- England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland publicly withdrew support for Infantino after the plan was revealed.
- A prospective challenger needs backing from at least 106 of Fifa’s 211 members to stand; a no-confidence move would require 159 votes and was abandoned by Uefa.
- No official challengers have been named; Concacaf president Victor Montagliani is reported as being considered an option.