FIFA president Gianni Infantino remains determined to seek a fourth term despite mounting criticism and the growing prospect of legal action. The head of world football’s governing body has reaffirmed that he intends to stand in the 2027 presidential election, which is due to take place in around six months.
A FIFA spokesperson confirmed that there had been no change to Infantino’s plans. The statement came hours after the Swiss-Italian had avoided questions about his political future while attending the opening of the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.
“FIFA President already announced in April that he will stand for election in 2027. There has been no change to this decision. He is definitely running,” the spokesperson said.
Infantino was approached by journalists as he arrived for the opening match but declined to comment directly on the controversy surrounding his leadership or his plans for another term. During the match between hosts Poland and Argentina in Katowice, he was seen speaking with Cezary Kulesza, president of the Polish Football Association.
Speaking to Sky News outside the stadium, Infantino said there was “a lot to say”, but that he would address the issues “at the right time and on the right stage”. For the moment, he said, the focus was on enjoying football.
He also defended FIFA’s broader mission, saying the organisation was working to expand football’s opportunities, status and potential across every part of the world and to bring people together through the sport.
Yet his refusal to answer questions about his future comes at a difficult moment for his presidency. Infantino has faced growing criticism over FIFA’s commercial strategy, its relationship with powerful political figures and proposals concerning the management and sale of major tournament rights.
A central issue is the question of whether he is eligible to seek a fourth term. FIFA’s rules have traditionally been understood to limit a president to three four-year terms, or 12 years in total. Infantino, however, argued in 2022 that his initial period in office should not count towards that limit.
He was elected in 2016 following Sepp Blatter’s resignation and maintained that he had completed only the remainder of Blatter’s term before beginning his own full presidential terms. On that interpretation, he argues that the clock on his term limit should not include the initial period following his election.
That position has attracted opposition from critics and human rights organisations, which have called for the issue to be examined by FIFA’s Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee. Some have argued that the eligibility question should be settled before the election proceeds.
Infantino has also faced scrutiny over his increasingly visible relationship with major political figures. His public association with former US president Donald Trump drew criticism, particularly after Infantino presented Trump with FIFA’s first Peace Prize during the draw for the 2026 World Cup in Washington, DC, last December.
The commercial direction of FIFA has created another source of tension, particularly with European football’s governing body, UEFA. The dispute centres on plans to transfer the commercial rights to major FIFA competitions, including the men’s and women’s World Cups and the Club World Cup, to a new affiliated entity known as FIFA Forward Enterprise, or FFE.
UEFA has taken steps in a US federal court to obtain documents as part of preparations for possible legal proceedings against Infantino and other FIFA officials in Switzerland. The European governing body has indicated that it is considering legal action over the proposed commercial structure and the handling of the rights.
FIFA has strongly opposed the move, describing UEFA’s request as an unjustified attempt to obtain information. It has also filed its own response in the US court, arguing that UEFA has no legal basis to demand internal documents when no formal criminal proceedings have been brought in Switzerland or elsewhere.
The dispute adds another layer of uncertainty to an already contentious election campaign. Infantino has spent the past decade consolidating his influence across international football, but questions over governance, commercialisation and his political relationships have increasingly put his leadership under scrutiny.
The 2027 FIFA presidential election is scheduled for 18 March 2027 in Rabat, Morocco. Candidates must formally declare their intention to stand by 18 November 2026. FIFA has 211 member associations, and a candidate needs at least 106 votes to secure victory.
For Infantino, the months ahead will therefore be crucial. His determination to run for another term is clear, but whether his eligibility, political standing and support among FIFA’s member associations can withstand the growing challenges will be closely watched as the election approaches.
