FIFA president Gianni Infantino remains determined to seek a fourth term in office despite mounting criticism, growing opposition and the prospect of legal action over controversial commercial plans. The head of world football’s governing body has reaffirmed that he intends to contest the 2027 presidential election, which is due to take place in six months.
A FIFA spokesperson confirmed that Infantino’s plans had not changed. The statement came hours after the president avoided questions about his political future while attending the opening of the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.
“FIFA’s president announced in April that he would stand in the 2027 election. There has been no change to that decision. He will contest the election,” the spokesperson said.
Infantino was approached by journalists before the opening match between hosts Poland and Argentina in Katowice, but declined to comment directly on the growing pressure surrounding his leadership or his plans for another term.
Speaking outside the stadium, he indicated that he would address the issues when he considered the timing and setting appropriate.
“There is a lot to say, but I will say it at the right time and on the right stage,” Infantino said, while stressing that the immediate focus should remain on football.
He also defended FIFA’s broader mission, saying the organisation was working to expand football’s opportunities, status and potential across different parts of the world and to bring people together through the sport.
His refusal to answer direct questions about whether he had considered stepping down, however, has added to scrutiny over his position.
Infantino, who holds both Swiss and Italian citizenship, has been one of the most influential figures in international football for nearly a decade. He became FIFA president in 2016 after Sepp Blatter resigned and was subsequently re-elected in 2019 and 2023.
His administration has overseen significant changes in FIFA’s commercial ambitions and competition structure. At the same time, those efforts have attracted criticism from sections of the football community, particularly over the growing emphasis on commercial expansion and the organisation’s relationships with influential political figures.
One of the most contentious issues concerns the proposed transfer of commercial rights for FIFA’s major competitions to a new affiliated entity known as FIFA Forward Enterprises, or FFE. The proposed structure has become a source of tension between FIFA and UEFA, European football’s governing body.
UEFA has taken steps in a United States federal court to obtain documents as part of its consideration of possible legal action in Switzerland involving Infantino and other FIFA officials. The dispute centres on the proposed handling of commercial rights linked to major tournaments, including the men’s and women’s World Cups and the Club World Cup.
FIFA has strongly challenged UEFA’s move, describing it as an unreasonable attempt to obtain information. In its response to the US court, FIFA argued that no formal criminal proceedings had been launched in Switzerland or elsewhere and questioned UEFA’s legal basis for seeking internal documents.
The dispute has intensified questions about the direction of FIFA under Infantino, particularly as the organisation seeks to increase revenues from its flagship competitions.
His relationship with former United States president Donald Trump has also attracted considerable attention. Infantino’s decision to present Trump with FIFA’s first Peace Prize during the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington, DC, last December prompted criticism in football and political circles.
Critics have argued that Infantino’s close relationships with powerful political leaders, alongside his efforts to maximise FIFA’s commercial income, risk blurring the line between football administration, international politics and business interests.
The question of whether Infantino is legally entitled to seek a fourth term has also become a significant issue.
Under FIFA’s rules, a president can normally serve a maximum of three four-year terms, amounting to 12 years. Infantino, however, has argued that his initial period in office should not be counted as a full term.
His reasoning is based on the circumstances of his election in 2016. He was elected by FIFA’s special congress following Blatter’s resignation and maintained that he was completing the remainder of Blatter’s term rather than beginning a full four-year presidential mandate. In 2022, he used that interpretation to argue that the initial period should not count towards the term limit.
The interpretation has been challenged by critics and human rights organisations, some of which have called for FIFA’s Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee to examine the issue and determine whether Infantino should be eligible to stand again.
The controversy has emerged alongside concerns about his relationship with regional football confederations and national associations. Although he retains considerable influence within FIFA, questions have increasingly been raised about the strength of his support as opposition to some of his decisions grows.
The 2027 presidential election is therefore expected to be closely watched, particularly because FIFA’s president holds considerable authority over the organisation’s strategic, commercial and administrative direction.
The election is scheduled for 18 March 2027 in Rabat, Morocco. Candidates seeking the presidency must formally declare their candidacies by 18 November this year.
FIFA has 211 member associations, each entitled to a vote in the presidential election. A candidate needs at least 106 votes to secure victory.
For Infantino, the months ahead could prove decisive. He will have to navigate criticism over his proposed fourth term while facing questions surrounding FIFA’s commercial strategy and its increasingly public dispute with UEFA. Despite the pressure, however, his position remains clear: he intends to seek another four years at the helm of world football.
