European football leaders expect challenger to Gianni Infantino, but candidate remains unclear
European football figures say they expect opposition to Gianni Infantino in the 2027 FIFA presidential election. Arsène Wenger has been suggested, but has given no indication he will run.
European football leaders expect Gianni Infantino to face a challenger in FIFA’s March 2027 presidential election, The Guardian reported on 15 October, but they have yet to unite behind a candidate. The nomination deadline is 18 November.
One European football association head told The Guardian they were ‘positive’ an opponent would emerge. The paper said senior figures at UEFA and other associations shared that view before a FIFA Council meeting scheduled for Thursday, 15 October, in Zurich.
The search for an Infantino challenger
The Guardian reported that UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation had indicated opposition to Infantino’s re-election. Their presidents had ruled themselves out, it said, leaving the groups without a shared candidate ahead of the deadline.
Sources familiar with the effort told The Guardian that it was making progress and that a candidate might announce close to 18 November. A prospective contender needs nominations from at least five national associations, according to BBC Sport.
BBC Sport reported that senior European football figures wanted Arsène Wenger to stand as a surprise candidate. It also found no indication in Zurich that he was preparing a bid. Wenger did not comment on his intentions when approached through FIFA, and people close to him would not say whether he was interested.
Former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega was the only person to have declared an intention to run when BBC Sport published its report. The broadcaster said few rated his chances. It described Infantino as seeking a fourth and final term and assessed that he might still be re-elected unopposed.
Issues before the FIFA Council in Zurich
The scheduled council meeting was expected to examine FIFA governance reforms, the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise plan, a Peace Prize awarded to Donald Trump and disciplinary procedures following the Folarin Balogun affair, BBC Sport reported. The reports were published before the meeting and do not establish its outcome.
The Guardian said Infantino had pledged a full report on the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan at the meeting, although council members had not received it in advance. BBC Sport reported that Wenger said he was not involved in the plan and first learned of it through media reports.
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Sources and context
- European football leaders confident of finding candidate to stand against InfantinoThe Guardian
- Fifa: Could Arsene Wenger take on Gianni Infantino for presidency?BBC Sport
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.