FIFA confirms that Gianni Infantino will re-apply for
According to News.
Why this matters
Gianni Infantino's re-candidacy for the FIFA presidency in 2027 is a crucial issue for the governance of world football. His leadership since 2016 has been marked by significant reforms, but also by criticism over the interpretation of term limits rules, which can influence transparency and accountability within the organization. This debate is especially relevant as football prepares to face new global challenges and expectations.
Main conclusions
- FIFA confirms that Gianni Infantino will re-apply for.
- Gianni Infantino will advance to a new candidacy for the presidency of FIFA in 2027, a confirmation made by the organization despite criticism and resistance from some sectors of football.
- FIFA confirms Gianni Infantino will stand for re-election in 2027, despite opposition - The Athletic - The New York Time.
FIFA confirmed that Gianni Infantino will re-run for president in the 2027 elections, a decision that comes despite the opposition expressed by some sectors of international football. The confirmation keeps the Swiss-Italian leader at the center of the debate on governance and term limits in the body that oversees world football.
Infantino has led FIFA since 2016, after the departure of Sepp Blatter, having been re-elected in 2019 and again in 2023. On these last two occasions, the official ran unopposed, in a context of continuity of governance reforms initiated following the scandals that shook the institution in 2015. Since then, FIFA has introduced term limit rules, in principle set in three cycles of four years (12 years), an issue that has generated different readings when applied to Infantino’s route.
The point of friction lies in the initial period from 2016 to 2019, considered by FIFA itself as an incomplete mandate to complete the previous cycle. This interpretation has been used to support Infantino's eligibility in 2027, while critical voices argue that, in practical terms, the president is already on track to surpass the symbolic threshold of 12 years at the top of the organization. The confirmation of the re-candidacy, now made public, revives this debate and promises to mark football's political agenda until the next electoral Congress.
During his years as president, Infantino sponsored structural changes of great impact, with emphasis on the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams, already valid from the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Under his leadership, FIFA also sought new sources of revenue and redesigned competitive calendars, themes that both garner support and raise reservations among federations, clubs and leagues.
The confirmation that the current leader will stand for votes again in 2027 offers political predictability within FIFA, but also increases the pressure on the organization to ensure transparency in the electoral process and clarify, without ambiguity, the application of statutes relating to the duration and counting of mandates. For national federations, including the Portuguese one, the cycle until 2027 will also be decisive in defining the competitive and commercial priorities of global football, in a period that covers the holding of the 2026 World Cup and the transition to the following cycle.
The detailed schedule for the 2027 elections will be defined and communicated by FIFA in due time, within the scope of its congresses and internal regulations. Until then, the announcement of Infantino's re-candidacy guarantees that the discussion on leadership and reforms will remain at the top of the international football agenda.
What happens next
With the confirmation of Infantino's re-candidacy, the discussion about his eligibility and term limits is expected to gain prominence in the next elections in 2027. Internal opposition could intensify, especially among those who defend a new approach to football governance. The impact of his policies, such as the expansion of the World Cup, will also be a focal point in conversations about the future of FIFA and its leadership under Infantino.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Gianni Infantino?
Gianni Infantino has been the president of FIFA since 2016.
When will the next FIFA elections be?
The next FIFA elections are scheduled for 2027.
How many times was Gianni Infantino re-elected?
Gianni Infantino was re-elected in 2019 and again in 2023.
What is the controversy surrounding Infantino's re-candidacy?
The controversy involves the interpretation of term limits and whether Infantino has already exceeded the symbolic period of 12 years in office.
What changes did Infantino implement at FIFA?
Infantino sponsored structural changes, including the expansion of the
World Cup for 48 teams from the 2026 World Cup.