UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin has officially ruled himself out of challenging Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency in the upcoming 2027 election.
Čeferin, who had been viewed as one of the strongest potential candidates to oppose Infantino, said he is not interested in replacing the FIFA president. He explained that he loves his work at UEFA and believes his credibility is stronger if he does not seek the position.
However, Čeferin’s decision does not mean Infantino will have a clear path to re-election. The UEFA chief has warned that Infantino could face an opposition candidate if he decides to contest the March 2027 election. He believes the FIFA president should either recognize that he no longer has sufficient support and step down, or prepare for a challenger.
Why are most Football stakeholders against Infantino?
Infantino has faced increasing criticism following his controversial proposal to create a commercial entity that would sell a stake in FIFA’s future World Cup revenues to private investors. The proposal was eventually abandoned after strong opposition from several football bodies.
UEFA has been at the forefront of the resistance, while concerns have also emerged from other continental confederations. The dispute has intensified the political battle surrounding FIFA’s leadership ahead of next year’s election.
Čeferin has also argued that Infantino no longer enjoys the broad support of important sections of the football community, including fans, players and coaches.
Who Could Challenge Infantino?
For now, no confirmed challenger has emerged, although several prominent football figures have been linked with a possible bid.
Infantino has been FIFA president since 2016 and is seeking another term, with the presidential election scheduled for March 18, 2027, in Morocco.
The deadline for candidates to submit their nominations is November 18, 2026.
Čeferin’s decision therefore removes one of the biggest names from the potential race, but his warning suggests the FIFA presidential election could still become a major contest.