Gianni Infantino announces candidacy for reelection as FIFA president
Gianni Infantino has confirmed his intention to seek re-election as FIFA president in a newly emerged video, declaring he will contest the ballot scheduled for 18 March next year, reports BritPanorama.
The footage shows the head of world football’s governing body stating his candidacy as though it were a foregone conclusion, using the word “obviously” twice when announcing his plans.
FIFA itself had already acknowledged earlier this month that Infantino is pursuing what would be a final term in charge, extending his presidency through to 2031. Candidates have until 18 November to formally enter the race.
His bid faces significant resistance, however, with UEFA spearheading demands for Infantino to step aside from the role. The European football governing body is not alone in its opposition; a number of national associations have also turned against the incumbent, with the English FA among those to have pulled their backing for his continued leadership.
Despite this pushback, Infantino maintains he retains broad global support. The 18 November deadline for rival candidates to declare their intentions will reveal whether he faces a formal challenge or secures another term unopposed. The mounting pressure on Infantino has been compounded by the collapse of FIFA’s contentious plan to generate profits from the World Cup, which has since been shelved.
Adding to his difficulties, UEFA is in the process of drawing up a criminal complaint relating to alleged financial mismanagement at the organisation. The combination of these developments has intensified scrutiny of Infantino’s stewardship at a critical moment in his campaign for another term.
Whether these challenges ultimately derail his re-election effort or merely serve as background noise to a comfortable victory remains to be seen when delegates cast their votes in March. In the video, Infantino pointed to his decade-long track record, telling viewers: “Well, first of all, I am the FIFA president elected by 211 member associations.”
“I’m speaking to many, many of them from all over the world and I can enjoy great support from all of them,” he continued. “Probably also thanks to the great work that we have been doing in the last 10 years in the sporting side, in the governance side and the commercial side.”
His campaign message centres on a straightforward motto: “Football belongs to everyone, everywhere in the world.” He added: “We want to give everyone the opportunity to dream, to participate, to play, to improve, to narrow the gap between the big and all the others. And that’s what I will continue to be doing.”
