Gianni Infantino will run for reelection as FIFA president despite uncertainty over his future in the position following his failed attempt to raise $20 billion with the sale of a stake in future World Cups to private investors.
The 56-year-old, who assumed the role of president in 2016, had been expected to have an unopposed run to a fourth and final term at an election at FIFA Congress next March.
But the controversy over his plan to sell shares in FIFA Forward Enterprises (FFE) to Thrive Eternal, an American investment company led by Joshua Kushner, brother of U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, has led to a significant split in world football with UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) all voicing their loss of support for Infantino.
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Some individual nations have reiterated their support for Infantino in recent weeks and the Swiss-Italian needs a simple majority from a vote among the 211 FIFA member associations to stay in post. And FIFA has confirmed that Infantino will seek reelection, regardless of whether he faces a direct challenge.
“The FIFA President announced in April that he will stand for re-election in 2027,” a FIFA spokesperson said. “Of course, nothing has changed. Mr Infantino will be standing for reelection.”
Victor Montagliani, the president of Concacaf, has been mooted as a potential challenger to Infantino and UEFA has publicly backed a contest against Infantino. Candidate nominations for FIFA president must be submitted by Nov. 18.
