FIFA Officially Confirms Gianni Infantino’s Bid for a Fourth Presidential Term in 2027

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – JULY 19: FIFA President Gianni Infantino arrives at the stadium before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

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The decision is now official.

Gianni Infantino is moving forward with his campaign for another term as FIFA president.

FIFA, the global governing body of soccer, confirmed on Sunday that Infantino will pursue a fourth term in 2027.

While hardly unexpected, FIFA removed any lingering ambiguity regarding his intentions.

“The FIFA President announced in April that he will stand for re-election in 2027,” FIFA noted in a statement, as reported by Reuters. “Of course, nothing has changed. Mr. Infantino will be standing for re-election.”

The 56-year-old Infantino has been navigating a significant international controversy since he introduced the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal on July 28. This ambitious plan would have divested up to a 20 percent stake in future World Cup broadcasting and commercial rights to outside investors, in a deal valued at roughly $20 billion. Potential investors reportedly included JP Morgan Bank and technology entrepreneur Joshua Kushner, brother of President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, among others.

The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from UEFA, Concacaf, the Asian Football Confederation, and numerous national associations.

Since the plan’s unveiling, there have been mounting calls for Infantino to step down, yet he has remained resolute in his position.

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Tensions Rise Between UEFA and FIFA

UEFA has threatened to boycott upcoming World Cups and other FIFA-organized events in direct response to Infantino’s actions. Europe’s continental soccer body ultimately chose not to pull its teams from the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup, which commenced in Poland on Saturday.

On August 27, UEFA filed a motion in U.S. District Court in New York seeking the disclosure of documents, with the potential for “criminal proceedings” against Infantino related to his commercialization proposal, according to The Athletic.

UEFA has accused Infantino of “promoting” a “fraudulently off-market price for his own benefit.”

FIFA has pushed back aggressively, asserting that UEFA has initiated a “smear campaign” against its president.

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Since the scandal erupted in late July, Infantino has maintained a notably low public profile.

Upon arriving in Katowice, Poland, for the opening of the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup on Saturday, September 5, he was approached by Sky Sports News of England.

Infantino declined to address questions concerning his tenure as FIFA’s leader.

When the Sky Sports reporter began to ask, “A lot of the world’s been waiting to hear from you. Are you…,” Infantino interjected.

“I’m very happy to be. Let me say, here in beautiful Poland, in Katowice. A fantastic city for the Under-20 FIFA Women’s World Cup. It’s great. This is what we do. This is about giving opportunities, giving chances to teams, to players, to talents from all over the world, increasing the number of participants. That’s what we do,” Infantino stated.

Throughout the exchange, Infantino offered occasional smiles.

“For all the rest, you know, there will be a lot to say, but there will be a right place and the right time to say this,” he continued. “It’s not today, it’s not here. … And today we are enjoying football. 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.”

When pressed further—”Are you definitely fighting the election? Are you definitely fighting the election or have you considered resigning? Do you apologize to the fans?”—Infantino maintained his stance.

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No Opponents Have Emerged Against Infantino

As of now, no rival candidates have officially entered the race, though Concacaf President Victor Montagliani of Canada has been discussed as a possible contender.

The deadline for candidates to submit their applications is November 18, and each hopeful must secure the endorsement of at least five FIFA member associations.

The election itself is scheduled to take place in Rabat, Morocco, on March 18, 2027. To win, a candidate must secure a majority of votes from FIFA’s 211 member associations.

Soccer Supporters Voice Their Frustration

The ongoing controversy surrounding Infantino has also ignited strong reactions among soccer supporters worldwide.

On the morning of Friday, September 4, a group erected a billboard in New York City’s Times Square calling for Infantino’s resignation. The display is positioned at the intersection of 1500 Broadway and West 43rd Street.

The billboard carried two distinct messages.

SOCCER CONFEDERATIONS:

REMOVE INFANTINO

INFANTINO OUT

and

FIFA

DESERVES

A LEADER

NOT A DEALER

INFANTINO OUT

According to the Daily Mail, supporters issued the following statement regarding the embattled FIFA president:

“We are football fans first and foremost and believe we echo the feelings of fans everywhere regarding Infantino and the threat he poses to the future of football.

“He deceived, blackmailed, and threatened FIFA, his team, and the wider global football leadership in order to sell international football to people who have ties to deeply unsavory activities, and who have no interest in the fans except as profit centers.

“Infantino, who is meant to protect football from such grave dangers, enthusiastically offered it up on a platter, paving the way with a fake ‘Peace Prize’, and only stipulating that he gets a cut. Shameful.

“We call on fans everywhere to make it clear Infantino is persona non grata at their stadiums and to demand the confederations they’re members of remove him as soon as possible.

“Until he is removed, we demand action: We call on federations and confederations to revoke invitations and/or ban Infantino from tournaments and matches.

“Gianni Infantino is not a leader; he is a dealer who tried to sell the World Cup and, more disturbingly, the children’s World Cup. We should all be shocked and disgusted by the latter.”

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Backing from Africa, Mexico, and Cameroon

Infantino has garnered public support from the Confederation of African Football, CONMEBOL representing South America, and the Mexican Football Federation.

Cameroonian Football Federation President Samuel Eto’o publicly endorsed Infantino during a CNN appearance on August 24.

“I don’t think that President Gianni Infantino has done anything wrong,” Eto’o told CNN. “I think the timing of all of that is because there’s an election coming out, when Gianni Infantino is standing. That’s all there is.”

Eto’o further elaborated: “He made a proposal: the 211 members were supposed to sit down, debate the issue, and let the majority win. But I am convinced that the voices that were raised, those were not the voices of the majority.”

He added: “He’s given opportunities to nations that didn’t have those opportunities to take part in the most beautiful tournament, the World Cup. He enabled smaller nations to get seats at these competitions. He has helped our continent. He’s helped our federations to develop much more quickly. We should support him for everything he’s done up to now.”

Michael Lewis, the sixth recipient of the Clay Berling Media Career of Excellence Award in 2025, can be followed on X and Bluesky at @Soccerwriter. His tenth soccer book, Around the World Cup in 40 Years: An American sportswriter’s perspective, has been published.

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