The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) is witnessing a state of anticipation as the presidential election approaches, with five potential candidates emerging to challenge the current president Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency seat.
These developments come amid significant challenges facing Infantino, notably the failure of his plans to inject billions of dollars in investments into the federation’s competitions, including the World Cup, which could negatively affect his chances of winning a new term.
Although Infantino announced his intention to run for another four-year term during the upcoming general assembly meetings scheduled to be held in Morocco next March, seeking the support of the majority of the federation’s 211 members, the current situation suggests the possibility of strong competitors emerging.
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has announced its loss of confidence in him, while the Asian Football Confederation and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) have sharply criticized his leadership style, opening the door for new candidates before the application deadline on November 18.
Among the most prominent names expected to challenge Infantino is Aleksander Čeferin, the 58-year-old president of UEFA, known for his extensive experience in direct confrontations.
Čeferin, a Slovenian lawyer and former karate player, presents himself as an alternative to Infantino. Despite defending UEFA’s commercial direction, he organized a European protest against Infantino in early 2024, emphasizing the need for each organization to have “fresh blood” after a certain period. Also notable is Nasser Al-Khelaifi (52), president of the European Club Association and president of the French club Paris Saint-Germain.
Al-Khelaifi has not ruled out the idea of hosting the World Cup every two years, showing openness to discussion. Although he does not wish to take on the FIFA presidency, he is considered a close ally of Čeferin and a member of UEFA’s executive committee.
The list of potential candidates also includes Matias Grafström (45), FIFA’s Secretary General, who officially took office in 2024.
Grafström, born to a Swedish father and Dutch mother and a former Swiss youth table tennis champion, has built his career as a football administrator. Despite his closeness to Infantino, media reports suggest he sees an opportunity to take the highest position in world football.
Victor Montagliani (60), president of CONCACAF, is another key name. The Canadian Montagliani, who headed the Canadian Soccer Association in 2012, became president of the continental federation in 2016 following a corruption scandal that shook the federation in 2015.
The CONCACAF federation, under Montagliani’s leadership, unanimously rejected Infantino’s investment plans, strengthening his position as a potential alternative.
Finally, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa (60), president of the Asian Football Confederation, stands out. He previously competed against Infantino for FIFA presidency in 2016 and lost by a narrow margin.
Sheikh Salman, who faced previous allegations of corruption and human rights violations, stressed the importance of collective dialogue and respect for the current leadership. Under his leadership, the Asian Football Confederation rejected Infantino’s investment plans.
These are the five main candidates for the FIFA presidency who could pose a real challenge to Infantino in the upcoming elections.
