FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed he will run for re-election in March 2027, despite criticism over his abandoned plan to bring private investment into World Cup events. According to FIFA, Infantino will continue as head of world football until 2031 if he is re-elected for a fourth term. UEFA, which had initially threatened to boycott FIFA competitions over the scrapped plan, has accused Infantino of "criminal mismanagement" and has filed requests in the US to access documents related to the plan. At least three confederations, including UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC, have collaborated on a joint letter criticizing Infantino's leadership style.
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 Several national associations, including the English FA, have also withdrawn their support for Infantino's re-election.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 5657 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-06
Gianni Infantino will stand in next March’s FIFA presidential election, despite the backlash over his now-abandoned plan to bring private investment into the World Cup, football’s global governing body announced Sunday.
asserted
body → stand → Cup
“The FIFA President announced in April that he will stand for re-election in 2027,” a FIFA spokesperson said.
asserted
spokesperson → announce → 2027
“Of course, nothing has changed.
asserted
nothing → change → ?
Mr Infantino will be standing for re-election.”
asserted
Infantino → stand → election
The 56-year-old Swiss has taken a pummelling since the announcement in late July of his short-lived FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan to bring private investment into FIFA events.
asserted
Swiss → take → events
But now, for the first time since the plan became public, FIFA has reiterated Infantino’s intention to run for a fourth and final term in next year’s elections.
asserted
FIFA → become → elections
Should he be re-elected, he will continue to serve as head of world football until 2031.
asserted
he → re → 2031
Infantino is in Poland for the Women’s Under-20 World Cup, but refused to answer queries about his future when questioned by journalists on Saturday.
asserted
Infantino → refuse → Saturday
Only candidate
European body UEFA has accused Infantino of “criminal mismanagement” over the scheme and was the ringleader of the initial fightback to the announcement, including threatening to boycott all FIFA competitions, including the men’s and women’s World Cups, if it was not shelved.
asserted
it → accuse → Cups
If UEFA withdrew its threat to boycott FIFA tournaments on August 27 — ahead of the Women’s Under-20 World Cup in Poland — it remains absolute in its conviction that Infantino must depart his role.
asserted
Infantino → withdraw → role
The European body has filed requests in the USA for the disclosure of documents related to the plan from FIFA and partners.
asserted
body → file → FIFA
If successful in gaining access to the documents, UEFA had said it intends to lodge a legal complaint in Switzerland, saying it has been assured the case would meet the requirements to be heard in a Swiss court.
It has also found solid support from North American body CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in its actions against Infantino.
asserted
It → gain → Infantino
The three confederations have kept up the pressure and collaborated on a no-holds-barred joint letter issued last month.
asserted
confederations → keep → letter
It is not about holding — or demanding — power to be held,” they wrote.
asserted
they → hold → power
CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani is widely seen as the likeliest challenger to Infantino — UEFA boss Aleksander Ceferin has ruled himself out.
asserted
Ceferin → see → himself
Montagliani, a FIFA vice-president, had long been regarded as a close ally of Infantino, but there were signs, even before he distanced himself over the now-scrapped plan to allow private investment into World Cups, that he viewed FIFA’s purpose somewhat differently to the Swiss.
asserted
he → regard → Swiss
But Infantino is not without friends — 2034 World Cup hosts Saudi Arabia came out in support last month, with African football’s governing body CAF and South America’s CONMEBOL supportive, too.
asserted
body → come → support
Earlier in September, FIFA also accused UEFA of a “smear campaign” and a “fishing expedition” against Infantino.
asserted
FIFA → accuse → Infantino
As the only declared candidate so far for the election due to take place in Rabat, Infantino will need a simple majority of votes from the 211 federations affiliated to FIFA to extend his term of office, which began in 2016 and was renewed in 2023.
asserted
which → declare → 2023
Candidate nominations for next year’s election must be submitted by November 18.
asserted
nominations → submit → November
