FIFA President Gianni Infantino is set to stand for re-election next year, according to the world football governing body. In a recent statement, FIFA confirmed that the president’s position remains unchanged from his announcement in April, affirming that he will indeed be a candidate for the 2027 election. The vote is scheduled to take place during the 77th FIFA Congress on Thursday, 18 March 2027, in Rabat, Morocco.
Infantino, who has led the organization since his initial election in 2016, previously addressed the 211 member associations at the 76th Congress in Vancouver, Canada, to declare his intentions. During that session, he told delegates, “I want to tell you first – the 211 (FIFA) Member Associations – that I will be (a) candidate for the election of FIFA President next year,” while expressing gratitude for their support and passion for the game over the last decade.
The president’s tenure has faced significant scrutiny recently, particularly following the announcement in late July of a controversial private investment plan. The proposal, which would have invited third-party investors to acquire stakes in a commercial subsidiary known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), sparked intense backlash from the football community, with some critics alleging that the organization was attempting to “sell” the sport. Although the plan was eventually scrapped, it created a deep divide within world football, with various nations and regional confederations split on whether Infantino should remain in his role.
In August, European nations opted to withdraw a threat to boycott FIFA competitions after UEFA received assurances that the FFE plan had been “irrevocably and permanently withdrawn” and would not reappear in any other form. Despite this, UEFA has maintained its push for Infantino to be removed from his position as head of the governing body.
