‘Nothing has changed’ as Fifa confirms Infantino will seek re-election

The president of international football governing body Fifa, Gianni Infantino, is preparing to seek re-election for another term, despite controversy surrounding his previously proposed private investment plan for World Cup events. In April, Infantino announced his intention to run for re-election in 2027. The 56-year-old Swiss leader has faced significant backlash since unveiling the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan in late July, which aimed to introduce private investment into Fifa events.

Despite this, Fifa has confirmed Infantino's intention to stand for re-election, stating that "nothing has changed." Should Infantino be re-elected, he will continue to serve as Fifa's head until 2031. The European football federation Uefa has strongly criticized Infantino's management of the FFE plan, accusing him of "criminal mismanagement" and threatening to boycott all Fifa tournaments in protest.

Uefa has filed legal requests for documents related to the plan, with the aim of taking legal action in Switzerland. Additional support for Uefa's stance has come from North American body CONCACAF and Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The European confederations have also released a joint statement emphasizing that leadership in football is not about holding or demanding power, but rather about serving the sport.

While Infantino has received support from the hosts of the 2034 World Cup, Saudi Arabia, as well as CAF and CONMEBOL, he remains the only declared candidate for the upcoming election.