INFANTINO CONFIRMS BID FOR ANOTHER TERM AS FIFA PRESIDENT

FIFA President Gianni Infantino will seek re-election when the football governing body chooses its next president in March 2027, FIFA has confirmed. The announcement puts to rest recent speculation over whether the Swiss-Italian administrator would continue his bid for another term amid growing criticism of his leadership.

A FIFA spokesperson said Infantino had already announced in April that he would contest the 2027 election and that there had been no change to his plans. The election is scheduled for March 18, 2027, at the FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco, where Infantino is expected to seek another four-year mandate.

The confirmation comes at a difficult period for Infantino, following intense opposition to a now-abandoned proposal that sought to attract private investment into FIFA competitions. The plan, which reportedly involved a proposed $20 billion subsidiary and the sale of a stake in commercial rights linked to major tournaments, triggered resistance from UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation.

Infantino has also faced questions over FIFA's presidential term limits. Critics argue that his initial period in office after his 2016 election should count towards the maximum three terms allowed under FIFA statutes. However, FIFA previously ruled that the 2016–2019 period did not constitute a full term because he had taken over an interrupted mandate.

Despite the opposition, Infantino remains the only formally confirmed candidate for the upcoming election, while reports indicate that he continues to enjoy significant support from African and South American football authorities. With the nomination deadline set for November 18, the coming months are expected to determine whether a serious challenger emerges to contest his bid for another term at the helm of world football.

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