Published on 06/09/2026 – 14:51 GMT+2
FIFA President Gianni Infantino is expected to seek another term next year.
In a statement released to several media outlets, the world football governing body confirmed: “The FIFA President announced in April that he will stand for re‑election in 2027. Nothing has changed – Mr Infantino will indeed be a candidate.”
Infantino, who was initially elected in 2016, has faced mounting pressure following FIFA’s July announcement of a highly contentious private‑investment scheme that would have allowed external investors to acquire stakes in a newly created commercial arm, the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). The plan was later abandoned.
The initiative sparked strong opposition throughout the football world, with critics accusing FIFA of attempting to commercialise the sport.
The controversy quickly widened a rift in global football, with regional confederations and member nations divided over whether Infantino should remain in charge.
In August, European nations retracted a boycott threat after UEFA announced it had received guarantees that the FFE proposal had been permanently scrapped and would not resurface under any alternative structure or name.
Nonetheless, UEFA has persisted in calls for Infantino’s removal.
The next FIFA presidential election is scheduled to occur at the 77th FIFA Congress on Thursday, 18 March 2027, in Rabat, Morocco.
Addressing delegates at the 76th Congress in Vancouver, Canada, earlier this year, Infantino declared his intention to run again for the presidency.
“I want to inform the 211 FIFA member associations that I will be a candidate for the presidency next year,” he told delegates. “Thank you for your support over the past decade, for your dedication today, and for your love, commitment and passion for the game.”