Infantino may face no challenger as Fifa nomination deadline approaches
October 9, 2026 19:00
With 40 days to go until the 18 November deadline for nominations, senior figures in world football say the 56-year-old could face no challenger ahead of the Fifa Congress in Rabat on 18 March.
WHAT HAPPENED
News of Infantino's FFE proposal — a plan to sell off World Cup commercial rights to a private equity firm — surfaced a little more than two months ago and briefly left him appearing exposed. Uefa hoped the plan would open a path to replace him, but it has not produced a viable challenger.
CAMPAIGN AND SUPPORT
Since calling the Fifa management board to Rabat on 5 August to discuss FFE, Infantino has been on a global tour to shore up backing. He has visited Colombia for the inauguration of the country's new president, attended a Fifa-funded youth tournament in the Dominican Republic, was at the Fifa Asean Cup final in Jakarta and spoke at an African football conference in Cape Verde, where he told delegates: "We have invested $1bn in 10 years in Africa."
There is a clear split in support across the membership: Uefa, Concacaf and Asia are positioned against him, while Africa, South America and Oceania back him. That balance raises the prospect he could be returned despite carrying the backing of roughly half of Fifa's 211 members. The 54 African nations — holding more than a quarter of the votes — have pledged unconditional support for the third time this year. Europe has 55 votes.
Uefa has said it wants a president who is "a respected and unifying figure, deeply rooted in football" with "an unequivocal commitment to development, reform, integrity and independence."
POTENTIAL OPPONENTS
Victor Montagliani, long viewed as the most credible potential challenger, never publicly indicated he wanted the job and has chosen to continue as president of Concacaf. He has told staff he intends to stand for re-election with Concacaf, removing the possibility he would enter the presidential race. Only Ramon Vega has formally put himself forward so far, but it appears unlikely he will secure the required five letters from the 211 member associations to validate a candidacy — as was the case four years ago.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
The immediate deadline is 18 November for federation nominations. If no alternative candidate reaches the nomination threshold by then, Infantino could stand unopposed at the Fifa Congress in Rabat on 18 March.