Ceferin Rules Out Fifa Presidency Bid as Infantino Seeks Support for Re-Election
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has confirmed that he will not challenge Gianni Infantino for the Fifa presidency, although he believes another candidate could emerge before next year’s election.
The development comes amid growing debate over the future direction of football’s global governing body and Infantino’s plans to seek another term.
Ceferin Says He Will Not Run
Ceferin said he does not intend to stand for the Fifa presidency. However, he suggested that Infantino could face an opposing candidate when the election takes place in March 2027.
According to Reuters, UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF have also been considering whether to seek a vote of no confidence in Infantino before the election.
The discussions follow criticism surrounding a previously proposed plan involving the commercial rights to Fifa tournaments. That proposal has since been abandoned.
Debate Over Fifa’s Future Direction
Ceferin argued that the proposed commercial structure raised significant concerns about the future management of international football.
He also said opposition to the plan extended beyond Europe’s larger football nations, noting that several smaller European associations had expressed concerns about the proposal.
Ceferin believes his decision not to seek the presidency allows him to speak independently about the issues facing the organization.
Infantino Seeks Support From Smaller Associations
Infantino, who has led Fifa since 2016, has shown no indication that he plans to step aside.
He has focused on increasing investment and development opportunities for national football associations, particularly those with fewer financial resources.
During a recent visit to the Dominican Republic, Infantino said Fifa’s objective was to expand football opportunities across its 211 member associations and reduce the financial gap between larger and smaller football nations.
He has received support from several regional football confederations, including those representing Africa and South America.
Nordic Associations Call for Change
Six Nordic Fifa members — Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the Faroe Islands — recently issued a joint statement supporting calls for Infantino to leave his position.
The development adds to the wider debate within international football ahead of the 2027 Fifa presidential election.
At the same time, Infantino has continued meeting representatives of national associations and promoting Fifa’s development programs.
Election Battle Could Intensify
With Ceferin ruling out a personal challenge but the possibility of another opposition candidate remaining open, attention is now turning toward the months leading up to the election.
The coming period could determine whether Infantino faces a direct challenger and how football associations across different regions position themselves ahead of the vote.
For now, Infantino remains focused on securing support for another term, while UEFA and several other football organizations continue to raise questions about Fifa’s leadership and governance.
