FIFA Confirms Infantino Will Seek Re-Election As President In 2027

UEFA vs. FIFA

UEFA threatened to boycott future World Cups and FIFA-sponsored events in response to Infantino. Europe’s soccer governing body decided not to pull its teams from the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup, which kicked off in Poland on Saturday.

On Aug. 27, UEFA made a request in U.S. District Court in New York for the disclosure of documents, with the possibility of “criminal proceedings” against Infantino over his sell-off plan, The Athletic reported.

UEFA accused Infantino of “promoting” a “fraudulently off-market price for his own benefit.”

FIFA has retaliated, claiming that UEFA has launched “smear campaign” against its president.

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Infantino has tried to keep a low public profile since the scandal broke in July.

After arriving in Katowice, Poland, for the start of the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup on Saturday, Sept. 5, Sky Sports News of England caught up with him on Saturday.

Infantino refused to answer questions as to his future as FIFA boss.

The Sky Sports reporter asked: “A lot of the world’s been waiting to hear from you. Are you ….”

Then Infantino interrupted him:

“I’m very happy to be. Let me say, here in beautiful Poland, in Katowice. A fantastic city for the Under-20 FIFA Women’s World Cup. It’s great. This is what we do. This is about giving opportunities, giving chances to teams, to players, to talents from all over the world, increasing the number of participants. That’s what we do.”

Infantino smiled at times during the interview.

“For all the rest, you know, there will be a lot to say, but there will be a right place and the right time to say this,” he said. “It’s not today, it’s not here. … And today we are enjoying football. We are continuing at FIFA, of course, to work to give every corner of the world a chance, an opportunity, a dignity to find ways and means for them to become better and to participate and to celebrate football, which we all love.”

Infantino then was asked: “Are you definitely fighting Are you definitely fighting the election? Are you definitely fighting the election or have you considered resigning? Do you apologize to the fans?”

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No challengers for Infantino, yet

No challengers have stepped forward yet, although Concacaf President Victor Montagliani of Canada has been mentioned as a potential candidate.

All candidates must apply for election by Nov. 18 and have the endorsement of at least five FIFA member associations.

The election is set for Rabat, Morocco, on March 18, 2027. A candidate needs a majority of the 211 FIFA member associations to win.

* * *

Soccer fans demonstrate their anger

The Infantino controversy has also angered soccer fans.

On Friday morning, Sept. 4, they put up a billboard in Times Square in New York City, demanding that Infantino resign. The billboard is on the corner of 1500 Broadway and West 43rd St.

The billboard had two separate messages:

SOCCER CONFEDERATIONS:

REMOVE INFANTINO

INFANTINO OUT

and

FIFA

DESERVES

A LEADER

NOT A DEALER

INFANTINO OUT

According to the Daily Mail, this is the statement fans made about the beleaguered FIFA president:

“We are football fans first and foremost and believe we echo the feelings of fans everywhere regarding Infantino and the threat he poses to the future of football.

“He deceived, blackmailed, and threatened FIFA, his team, and the wider global football leadership in order to sell international football to people who have ties to deeply unsavory activities, and who have no interest in the fans except as profit centers.

“Infantino, who is meant to protect football from such grave dangers, enthusiastically offered it up on a platter, paving the way with a fake ‘Peace Prize’, and only stipulating that he gets a cut. Shameful.

“We call on fans everywhere to make it clear Infantino is persona non grata at their stadiums and to demand the confederations they’re members of remove him as soon as possible.

“Until he is removed, we demand action: We call on federations and confederations to revoke invitations and/or ban Infantino from tournaments and matches

“Gianni Infantino is not a leader; he is a dealer who tried to sell the World Cup and, more disturbingly, the children’s World Cup. We should all be shocked and disgusted by the latter.’ ”

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Support from Africa, Mexico, Cameroon

Infantino has received support from the Confederation of African Football, CONMEBOL (South America), and Mexico.

Cameroonian Football Federation President Samuel Eto’o gave his support on CNN, on Aug. 24.

“I don’t think that President Gianni Infantino has done anything wrong,” Eto’o told CNN. “I think the timing of all of that is because there’s an election coming out, when Gianni Infantino is standing. That’s all there is.”

Eto’o continued: “He made a proposal: the 211 members were supposed to sit down, debate the issue, and let the majority win. But I am convinced that the voices that were raised, those were not the voices of the majority.”

He added: “He’s given opportunities to nations that didn’t have those opportunities to take part in the most beautiful tournament, the World Cup,” Eto’o said. “He enabled smaller nations to get seats at these competitions. He has helped our continent. He’s helped our federations to develop much more quickly. We should support him for everything he’s done up to now.”

Michael Lewis, the sixth recipient of the Clay Berling Media Career of Excellence Award in 2025, can be followed on X an Bluesky at @Soccerwriter. His 10th soccer book, Around the World Cup in 40 Years: An American sportswriter’s perspective, has been published.