FIFA Confirms Infantino Will Seek Re-Election Despite Calls For His Resignation

FIFA has confirmed that President Gianni Infantino will seek re-election next year, despite growing opposition to his leadership over a controversial proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors.

A FIFA spokesperson told Sky News that Infantino remained committed to contesting the election scheduled for March 2027, after the FIFA president declined to directly answer questions about his future in the role.

“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 spokesperson said.

Infantino spoke briefly to external media on Saturday for the first time since the World Cup commercialisation controversy erupted in July.

He was speaking to journalists as he arrived at the opening match of the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Katowice, Poland.

Asked about his plans for the future, Infantino spoke generally about his mission to expand football globally but declined to answer specific questions about the controversy or whether he had considered resigning.

“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 said.

“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.”

Infantino, who was first elected FIFA president in 2016 to replace disgraced former president Sepp Blatter, is seeking a fourth term in office.

However, his re-election bid has faced opposition from several football associations and governing bodies following the controversy surrounding the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).

The proposal involved plans to create a new commercial structure that would allow private investors to acquire a stake in World Cup-related revenues.

UEFA has said it has lost confidence in Infantino, accusing him of a breach of trust over secret negotiations surrounding the proposal.

The European football governing body has also threatened to boycott FIFA-run competitions unless there is a resolution to the dispute.

The Asian and North American football leadership have also expressed opposition to Infantino, while the football federations of Serbia, Sweden and Wales have withdrawn their support for his re-election.

Despite the opposition, no rival candidate has emerged ahead of the election. Candidates are required to secure the support of at least five FIFA member associations, with the deadline for nominations set for November.

The dispute has also moved into the US courts, where FIFA is fighting efforts by UEFA to obtain documents relating to the abandoned commercial scheme.

FIFA has described UEFA's actions as a “smear campaign”, while UEFA is seeking documents it could potentially use in criminal proceedings against Infantino in Switzerland over allegations that the World Cup was undervalued for his financial benefit.

Infantino has rejected such suggestions and previously characterised the abandoned venture as an effort to generate additional revenue for national football associations.

African Support For Infantino

Infantino continues to retain support from some football confederations and national associations, including the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

In August, CAF's Executive Committee unanimously reconfirmed its support for Infantino after FIFA withdrew the FFE proposal and apologised for shortcomings in the process.

CAF accepted a joint statement by Infantino and FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström acknowledging that FIFA's process had not sufficiently involved the FIFA Council and member associations.

“CAF welcomes and endorses the ‘Joint Update’ by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Secretary General Mattias Grafström,” CAF President Patrice Motsepe said at the time.

He stressed that governance, due process and transparency remained fundamental principles for African football.

The Argentine Football Association also expressed support for Infantino, praising his decade-long leadership and describing it as having contributed to the development of football worldwide and greater institutional stability.

The Mexican Football Federation similarly backed Infantino's leadership, while South America's governing body, CONMEBOL, opposed attempts to remove the FIFA president outside the organisation's established institutional framework.

However, the backing has not stopped the opposition from UEFA and other football bodies, leaving Infantino's re-election campaign facing its most significant challenge since he became FIFA president in 2016.

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