Fifa's Infantino confirms he will seek re-election for fourth term

Fifa has confirmed that president Gianni Infantino, in charge since 2016, will seek re-election in March 2027. This marks the first official confirmation since a plan to sell private investors stakes in Fifa competitions was floated after this summer's World Cup and subsequently scrapped.

The proposal triggered widespread criticism across football, with Uefa threatening to boycott all Fifa competitions, including the World Cup. A Fifa statement said Infantino had already announced his intention to run again back in April and that "nothing has changed."

Infantino himself declined to answer reporters' questions about his future when approached at the Women's Under-20 World Cup in Poland on Saturday.

Ongoing dispute with Uefa

This week Fifa accused Uefa of running a smear campaign against the organisation and its leadership amid litigation tied to Infantino's plan. Last week, Uefa filed papers in a US court seeking disclosure of Fifa documents and evidence, warning it may also pursue a criminal complaint in Switzerland.

As recently as mid-July, Infantino's re-election looked all but certain, having secured backing from nearly all Fifa member associations. Since the plan emerged, however, the football associations of England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland have publicly withdrawn their support.

Under Fifa rules, a president may serve a maximum of four terms. Should the 56-year-old Swiss official win again, he would remain in post until 2031. Any challenger would need backing from at least 106 of Fifa's 211 member associations. Uefa has dropped plans to force a no-confidence vote, since that would require 159 votes to change Fifa's statutes — a threshold seen as unattainable.

No rival candidate has yet emerged, though Concacaf president Victor Montagliani is regarded as a serious potential contender. Nominations must be submitted by 18 November.