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· collected 2026-09-06 · by AP
FIFA president Gianni Infantino avoided questions about his future amid growing uncertainty surrounding his leadership. When asked if he would resign or stand for a fourth term next year, Infantino declined to answer. The European nations had backed down on a boycott threat last week after FIFA assured them the World Cup sell-off plan would not be revived, but legal action continues and Europe is leading efforts to oust Infantino ahead of next year's election. A court filing by FIFA accused UEFA of running a "smear campaign" against it and its leadership in relation to the scrapped proposal.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Gianni Infantino, the 56-year-old president of FIFA, will stand for re-election despite facing growing pressure and criticism over his failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup. This decision was announced by FIFA on Sunday, after Infantino had declined to answer questions about his future at the Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland. If re-elected, Infantino will continue to serve as head of world football until 2031.
Infantino has been under fire since announcing his plan to sell stakes in the World Cup through a commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). European soccer's governing body, UEFA, has accused him of "criminal mismanagement" and threatened to boycott all FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup. Several national associations, including the English FA, have also withdrawn their support for Infantino's re-election.
Infantino's leadership has been questioned by many in the football world, with some calling for him to step down. However, he maintains that he will continue to run for a fourth and final term as president, despite the growing uncertainty surrounding his position.
Written for “FIFA President Re-Election” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 5 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score +0.35 for article 5398 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-06
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is staying mum on the leadership challenge he faces as a result of his failed plan to sell rights to private investors in the World Cup, and he declined to answer questions about his re-election upon arrival at the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.
asserted
he → stay → Poland
Infantino, who faces continuing pressure and the prospect of a criminal case, was in the stands speaking with Polish football federation president Cezary Kulesza as hosts Poland faced Argentina on the opening day of the tournament on Saturday.
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However, when he arrived at the Arena Katowice, the 56-year-old avoided questions about his future at the global governing body for football.
asserted
old → face → football
It’s not today, it’s not here, but here and today, we are enjoying football,” Infantino told British broadcaster Sky News outside the venue
asserted
Infantino → ’ → venue
“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.”
asserted
we → continue → which
Infantino did not answer when asked if he had considered resigning or whether he still intends to stand for a fourth term next year.
asserted
he → answer → term
Infantino had mostly kept out of the spotlight in the weeks since his World Cup sell-off plan fell apart amid opposition from many FIFA member nations and some of his own officials.
asserted
plan → keep → officials
The European nations — a quarter of the 24-team field — backed down on a boycott threat last week, citing assurances from FIFA that the plan would not be revived.
asserted
plan → back → FIFA
Legal action over the original attempt continues, and Europe has a leading role in efforts to oust Infantino ahead of next year’s FIFA election.
asserted
Europe → continue → election
A court filing by FIFA on Thursday accused UEFA of running a “smear campaign against FIFA and its leadership” as the European football body seeks discovery of evidence related to the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan.
asserted
body → accuse → plan
Infantino infuriated football leaders worldwide in July, shortly after the World Cup ended, when his plan for a $20bn subsidiary controlling FIFA commercial rights, including the World Cup, was revealed by British daily The Times.
asserted
plan → infuriate → daily
The spinoff was to be 20 percent owned by investors led by a New York fund created by Joshua Kushner, whose initial money was to pay offers of $20m to each of FIFA’s 211 member federations.
asserted
money → own → federations
They were given a mid-September deadline to accept.
asserted
They → give → deadline
The FIFA president dropped his proposal within four days.
asserted
president → drop → days
UEFA had support from the Asian Football Confederation and North American football body CONCACAF, and there was criticism of the plan and of Infantino from senior FIFA officials.
asserted
UEFA → have → officials
