FIFA President Gianni Infantino has seen his plans to attract private investors to inject billions of dollars into the governing body’s competitions—including the FIFA World Cup—fall short, a development that could complicate his bid for another term at the helm of world football.
Infantino is expected to seek a new four-year mandate during FIFA’s Congress in Morocco next March. While reports suggest he continues to enjoy the backing of a large majority of FIFA’s 211 member associations, growing criticism from several continental confederations has fueled speculation about possible challengers.
According to reports, UEFA has expressed a loss of confidence in Infantino’s leadership, while both the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) have criticized his management style. Some officials have also called for his resignation.
Infantino has led FIFA since 2016 and was re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023. No official challenger has yet emerged for the 2027 election cycle, although nominations must be submitted by November 18.
Potential contenders
Aleksander Čeferin (58)
The UEFA president, a Slovenian lawyer and former karate practitioner, has increasingly positioned himself as a counterweight to Infantino, despite overseeing UEFA’s own commercial expansion.
As he approaches the end of his final UEFA term in 2027, Čeferin has openly argued that leadership renewal is healthy for major organizations.
“After a certain period, every organization needs new blood,” he said in early 2024—a remark widely interpreted as criticism of Infantino’s continued tenure.
Nasser Al-Khelaifi (52)
The chairman of Paris Saint-Germain, president of the European Club Association (ECA), and member of UEFA’s Executive Committee is considered one of the most influential figures in global football.
Although Al-Khelaifi previously expressed openness to discussing controversial proposals such as staging the World Cup every two years, he has repeatedly stated that he has no ambition to become FIFA president. He is also regarded as a close ally of Čeferin.
Mattias Grafström (45)
Born to a Swedish father and Dutch mother, Grafström officially became FIFA secretary general in 2024, succeeding Fatma Samoura after serving in the role on an interim basis.
A longtime confidant of Infantino, Grafström has nonetheless been mentioned in media reports as a possible future contender should the political landscape within FIFA shift.
Victor Montagliani (60)
The Canadian administrator has served as Concacaf president since 2016, after previously leading the Canadian Soccer Association.
Montagliani rose to prominence following the 2015 FIFA corruption scandal that led to the arrest of then-Concacaf president Jeffrey Webb. Under his leadership, Concacaf unanimously rejected Infantino’s proposed investment plans, signaling growing tensions between the confederation and FIFA’s leadership.
Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa (60)
The Asian Football Confederation president previously challenged Infantino in the 2016 FIFA presidential election, ultimately losing the vote.
Since then, Sheikh Salman has remained one of the most influential figures in Asian football. The AFC recently rejected Infantino’s investment proposals, with Salman emphasizing the importance of collective decision-making and respect for existing governance structures.
While Infantino remains the overwhelming favorite if he seeks re-election, the collapse of his investment initiative and increasing opposition from several football confederations have intensified speculation that the next FIFA presidential race could become more competitive than his previous uncontested campaigns.
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