Who Will Lead FIFA Next? Potential Successors To Gianni Infantino

European football’s governing body, UEFA, has made no secret of its dwindling confidence in current FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Tensions escalated sharply after Infantino was forced to scrap a controversial plan to create an independent entity to manage commercial rights for the World Cup and other tournaments using private investment.

Abandoning the project failed to quell the discontent. Beyond Europe, administrative figures across Asia and North America have voiced public concerns regarding his governance style.

With questions mounting over Infantino’s prospects of securing another term in the 2027 FIFA presidential election, speculation is growing across European sports media regarding potential candidates. Six prominent figures have emerged as potential contenders to shape the future of world football.

Victor Montagliani

Canadian football administrator Victor Montagliani is widely viewed as a strong potential candidate to succeed Infantino. President of CONCACAF—the governing body for North, Central American, and Caribbean football—since 2016, he also serves as a FIFA Vice-President. Montagliani played a central role in securing the joint bid for the 2026 World Cup hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

A report by talkSPORT suggested that if Montagliani secures the combined 96 votes from CONCACAF and UEFA alongside ten additional member association votes, he would command a clear path to the FIFA presidency. However, Montagliani has yet to declare publicly whether he intends to challenge Infantino directly.

Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa

As President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Senior Vice-President of FIFA, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa represents a powerful voice in global football administration. The Bahraini royal stood against Infantino in the 2016 presidential election and has recently emerged as a vocal critic of Infantino’s commercial initiatives.

Aleksander Čeferin

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin stands as one of Infantino’s most prominent adversaries. The Slovenian lawyer, who represents 55 European member associations, previously boycotted the World Cup final in protest against FIFA’s leadership decisions. Although Čeferin has not indicated an intention to run for the presidency himself, he remains instrumental in uniting European federations against Infantino’s administration.

Mattias Grafström

FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström has emerged as a potential neutral candidate. The Swedish sports administrator assumed his current post in 2023 following previous roles at the Swedish Football Association and the AFC. Because Grafström remained unassociated with Infantino’s controversial commercial proposal, several administrators view him as an acceptable compromise candidate or an interim leader should Infantino step aside.

Nasser Al-Khelaifi

Nasser Al-Khelaifi, President of Paris Saint-Germain, Chairman of BeIN Media Group, and head of the European Club Association (ECA), possesses significant global influence. According to talkSPORT, sources close to Al-Khelaifi indicate that he currently has no desire to pursue the FIFA presidency, preferring to focus on his commitments with PSG, BeIN, and the ECA. Nevertheless, shifting political dynamics within football administration could alter his stance.

Patrice Motsepe

Billionaire businessman Patrice Motsepe has led the Confederation of African Football (CAF) since 2021. As one of Africa’s wealthiest individuals, Motsepe wields considerable influence within FIFA’s decision-making bodies. Given his close alignment with Infantino, analysts consider a presidential bid by Motsepe unlikely should the incumbent decide to run for re-election.