FIFA President Gianni Infantino will stand for re-election despite growing calls for him to step down as head of world football’s governing body.

Mr. Infantino has faced increasing pressure after his controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup was met with a furious backlash.

But FIFA said on Sunday (September 6, 2026) that he plans to stand again in next year’s elections for a final term in office through 2031.

“The FIFA President announced in April that he will stand for re-election in 2027. Of course, nothing has changed. Mr. Infantino will be standing for re-election,” a FIFA spokesperson said.

November 18 is the deadline for candidates to enter the next presidential contest, exactly four months ahead of the vote.

UEFA, European football’s governing body, has led the calls for Infantino to go, saying it had lost confidence in him and previously threatened to boycott FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup. A number of national associations, such the English FA, have withdrawn support for Mr. Infantino’s re-election.

On Saturday (September 5) Infantino refused to comment about his future when arriving for the opening of the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.

“There will be a lot to say, but there will be a right place and a right time to say this. It’s not today, it’s not here, but here and today, we are enjoying football,” he told Sky News.

FIFA apologised for errors made over its controversial plan to sell profits in the World Cup through a commercial subsidiary and committed to “ensure they do not happen again.” But that hasn’t been enough to ease the pressure on Infantino’s position.

UEFA is preparing a criminal complaint against Mr. Infantino in Swiss courts for possible financial mismanagement over his now abandoned plan to sell future World Cup profits to private investors.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham added his weight to the debate last month, saying Mr. Infantino was not the right man to lead world foobtall’s governing body.

The heads of six Arab football federations expressed their “full support” and “confidence” in Gianni Infantino on Thursday (August 13, 2026) as the embattled FIFA president fights to keep his job after his failed World Cup private investment plan.

The backing came from 2030 World Cup co-host Morocco, Qatar, Egypt, Mauritania, Lebanon and Sudan, with four of the signatories being FIFA council members.

“We, the undersigned leaders of our respective football associations, express our full support for Mr. Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, and reaffirm our confidence in his leadership and continued commitment to the development of football worldwide,” the statement read.

“We deeply appreciate Infantino’s sustained efforts to advance football globally, expand opportunities across all regions and strengthen the game’s role in bringing people and communities together.”

The statement said the signatories “look forward to continuing our close cooperation with him towards a stronger and more prosperous future for world football, expanding opportunities and further enhancing Arab football’s contribution to the global game.”

Infantino under fire

Infantino is facing a revolt after his plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity investors. He withdrew the $20 billion proposal after a furious backlash by global football officials, including European body UEFA, which has warned of a boycott of all FIFA games and events.

UEFA teamed up with CONCACAF — the confederation for North, Central America and the Caribbean — and the Asian Football Confederation — and issued an open letter Monday (August 10) saying Infantino’s plan was a “fundamental breach of trust” and described it as “deception.” And on Thursday (August 13), the Football Association of Ireland said in a statement it has withdrawn its support for Infantino to be re-elected as FIFA president in March, saying “recent events have raised significant concerns regarding governance, transparency and the lack of meaningful consultation.”

The football federations in England and Wales did the same last week, while Northern Ireland said it was backing UEFA’s stance.

New Zealand Football, which is part of the Oceania confederation, issued a statement Friday (August 14) local time saying it had withdrawn its support for the candidature of Infantino and was seeking an independent review of steps taken to develop the FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme.

New Zealand football’s governing body said it “formed the view that decisions and actions within FIFA have contributed to a breakdown in trust and increased division within international football, and that an independent review is required to restore confidence and trust.” Schism in Asian bloc over Infantino support

By expressing support for Infantino, Qatar and Lebanon aligned against the Asian Football Confederation. Infantino’s official Instagram account previously has posted letters of support from several member federations, including Morocco, Qatar and the UAE.

The four FIFA council members among the signatories were Qatar Football Association president Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Egyptian Football Association president Hany Abo Rida, Moroccan Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa and Mauritanian Football Federation president Ahmed Yahya.

The other two were Lebanese Football Association president Hashem Haidar and Moatasem Gafar, president of the Sudan Football Association.

Infantino has been FIFA president since 2016 and seemed sure to be re-elected unopposed next year in Morocco.

FIFA has set a Nov. 18 deadline for challengers to come forward.

FIFA on Saturday (August 8, 2026) warned against what it called a “concerted and ongoing effort” to undermine President Gianni Infantino, saying attempts to challenge his leadership ​must follow the governing body’s statutes and democratic procedures.

The statement came amid an increasingly bitter ‌standoff over Mr. Infantino’s leadership following the collapse of his proposal ​to raise about $4.2 billion by selling a stake in the commercial ⁠rights of the World Cup and other tournaments.

The plan triggered criticism from UEFA, national associations and senior FIFA officials, led to calls for Infantino to resign and prompted a ‌crisis meeting in Morocco this week at which FIFA’s leadership reaffirmed its support for the president.

FIFA did not identify those it said were ‌seeking to undermine Mr. Infantino or specify which reports or allegations it was ‌referring ⁠to.

The statement followed reports by The Daily Telegraph about payments ⁠made by UEFA to a former employee during Mr. Infantino’s time as the European governing body’s general secretary, allegations he has denied and that FIFA has rejected as unfounded.

“Those who do not have the ​support of FIFA’s Member Associations ‌should not seek to achieve through allegation, insinuation or misinformation what they cannot achieve through FIFA’s established democratic processes,” FIFA said.

It said recent reporting had included “unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims” concerning FIFA and its president, adding that ‌it would challenge inaccurate or misleading reports “directly and vigorously”.

FIFA added it ​would not support, facilitate or tolerate any process concerning the election of its president that was inconsistent with its statutes, democratic procedures ⁠and governance framework.

“The FIFA president was democratically elected by FIFA’s member associations and continues to serve with their mandate,” it said.

FIFA support splits

Following a crisis meeting in ‌Morocco on Wednesday (August 5, 2026), FIFA apologised to its 211 member associations for mistakes in the handling of the proposal and said its leadership had reaffirmed its full support for Mr. Infantino.

The fallout has cast a shadow over Infantino’s bid for a fourth term at the FIFA Congress in Morocco in March. No clear candidate to challenge him has yet emerged.

European soccer’s governing body UEFA has said it ‌no longer has confidence in Mr. Infantino, while Norwegian Football Federation President Lise Klaveness called for him ​to resign on Friday (August 7, 2026), saying he no longer had the institutional trust required to govern FIFA.

But Mr. Infantino continues to enjoy substantial support ⁠among FIFA’s 211 members. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) unanimously backed his leadership on ⁠Thursday (August 6, 2026), while South America’s CONMEBOL rejected any attempt to oust him that did not involve a vote of all FIFA members.

Mexico’s football federation (FMF) ‌also backed Mr. Infantino, despite its regional confederation CONCACAF having called for a “comprehensive reckoning” with his presidency.

“The FMF will neither recognise nor approve any process convened ​outside of that institutional framework,” the Mexican federation said.

Former Real Madrid and Barcelona star Luis Figo has called for “deceitful” Gianni Infantino to quit as pressure mounts on the under-fire FIFA president.

Infantino is fighting to save his job after a fierce backlash against his plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup.

The 56-year-old wanted to sell a 20% stake in the World Cup to private equity investors through his FIFA Forward Enterprise.

The plan sparked a cascade of criticism for Infantino and has been rejected by three continental confederations, forcing the FIFA chief to ditch his divisive idea.

In a bid to win back support after his divisive plot, Infantino held emergency talks with other FIFA directors in Morocco on Wednesday, a source told AFP.

But former Portugal forward Figo heaped pressure on Infantino as he blasted the plan and demanded his resignation.

“I could write 10,000 words on the problems at FIFA. But the solution needs only three: Infantino must go,” Figo wrote in the Daily Mail on Wednesday (August 5, 2026).

“I have loved football all my life. I was a professional player for 20 years. And believe me, I have met some rogues in my time in the game.

“But what I have seen exposed in the last 10 days is the lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour I have ever witnessed.

“The man who would do that — the man who would try to force through such major changes just to enrich himself and his friends — is a relic of the game’s past and should have no part in its future.”

Infantino had defended his proposal by claiming it would increase revenue for all FIFA member nations.

But his attempt to rush through the deal without consulting Football Associations across the world, along with concerns about potentially playing an increased World Cup every two years instead of every four, sparked a furious backlash.

Several senior FIFA officials — including former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger — have lambasted Infantino’s behaviour.

Figo, who pulled out of the race to become FIFA president in 2015, wants Infantino to step down immediately rather than wait for his attempt to be re-elected next year.

“Infantino has debased the office of FIFA president that he promised to elevate,” said Figo, who won a host of trophies in his glittering playing career.

“He has lied, deceived and tried to feather his own nest at the expense of the game he is supposed to serve.”

The 53-year-old added: “He has lost the support of his senior staff, his closest advisers, the vast majority of people who devote their lives to this sport and even, it would seem, the FIFA Peace Prize winner (U.S. President Donald Trump).

“It is too late to save his dignity but it is not too late to save football. He should go. Now.”

FIFA executive Arsène Wenger on Tuesday (August 4, 2026) distanced himself from Gianni Infantino’s failed plan to sell stakes in future World Cup profits to private investors and said it was “absolutely necessary” to drop the proposal.

Wenger’s statement on the controversy came after a letter from UEFA’s lawyers to Infantino threatening legal action named the French coaching great among 18 executives whose data and communications should be retained as potential evidence.

“I was not involved in this strategic plan and first became aware of the project through media reports,” said Wenger, who was hired by Infantino in 2019 and is FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development.

The statement by the former Arsenal coach did not name Infantino.

“The decision to withdraw the project was absolutely necessary and beyond question, because I firmly believe in an independent FIFA that serves our game with commitment, transparency, and integrity,” Wenger wrote.

Infantino withdrew his $20 billion proposal early on Saturday (August 1) after a furious backlash by global soccer officials, including European body UEFA warning of a boycott of all FIFA games and events.

FIFA on Tuesday (August 4, 2026) dismissed as “pure ‌fiction” a report that its President Gianni Infantino had ​sought support from U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration after ⁠the collapse of a plan to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights.

The denial came after the New York Post reported on Monday (August 3) ‌that Infantino had repeatedly tried and failed to reach Mr. Trump by phone since his proposal was abandoned on ‌Friday (July 31) and that he felt isolated amid mounting criticism.

“The ‌FIFA ⁠President has not made any call to the U.S. ⁠President, or any members of his administration, in recent days. It is pure fiction,” FIFA said in a statement to Reuters.

The backlash has intensified over Infantino’s ​failed plan to spin off ‌the world football governing body’s commercial assets into a new entity backed by private investors.

FIFA’s proposal to unlock up to $4.2 billion from private investors by selling a roughly 20% stake in ‌an entity overseeing competitions including the World Cup collapsed ​after strong resistance from stakeholders.

With the plan shelved, attention has turned to the potential repercussions for Infantino, whose ⁠prospects of securing another term as FIFA president from 2027 to 2031 have come under increased scrutiny.

Mr. Trump and Infantino have forged a ‌close relationship, appearing together at major soccer events including this year’s World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Infantino presented Trump with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize in December 2025, making him the first recipient of the award.

The relationship attracted further attention because Thrive Capital — founded by Joshua Kushner, the brother ‌of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner — had been expected to play a leading ​role in the proposed commercial rights venture.

The New York Post also reported that Infantino had scheduled private talks ⁠with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. However, U.S. Assistant Secretary of ⁠State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson said in a post on X on Monday (August 3) that there were ‌no plans for Rubio to speak with the 56-year-old FIFA president.

Infantino has taken to Instagram to amplify messages of support ​from member federations including Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Qatar, and Morocco.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is abandoning his divisive plan to sell World Cup profits to private equity after receiving pushback from all corners of the soccer world.

Mr. Infantino’s decision came after his senior adviser who sat on a White House panel resigned and Asia’s soccer body joined Europe and North America in opposing it.

“Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place,” Mr. Infantino said in a statement on Friday (July 31, 2026). “Our purpose has always been — and will always be — to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed.” Mr. Infantino had proposed creating a $20 billion company to run the World Cup with private investors including the Kushner family, but drew backlash that grew every day since Tuesday’s announcement.

UEFA’s 55-member nations agreed to boycott the World Cup and all other FIFA competitions over Mr. Infantino’s plan on Thursday. North America’s CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation also said they opposed the plan.

“Some things are simply too important to sell,” UEFA said in a statement. “The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale.” Mr. Infantino’s senior adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, a former Goldman Sachs banker who represented the soccer body on the White House Task Force for the World Cup, resigned on Friday and urged other senior FIFA staff to speak out.

“I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup,” Cordeiro said in a statement, just hours after FIFA insisted: “Nobody is selling football.”

Any further expansion of the World Cup, increasing ‌the number of teams participating at the finals to 64, will be discussed after ​this year’s edition, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said without providing any details.

The 2026 finals ⁠in Canada, Mexico, and the United States have seen 48 teams for the first time, a decision that was heavily criticised but which has not provoked much debate since the tournament kicked off on June 11.

“These are all ‌issues that we will be examining after the World Cup,” Infantino, who successfully pushed for the expansion of the finals from 32 teams, told Swiss television outlet Blue Sport.

He did ‌not elaborate, saying only: “I think it is important that when you want to organise a ‌World ⁠Cup, you do it for the whole world — not just Europe and South America, but ⁠effectively the entire world.

“Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup. You can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high and it’s getting higher and higher, all over the world.

“If you don’t give smaller ​countries a chance to participate in the ‌World Cup, they’ll lack the incentive to keep improving.”

Infantino hailed the 48-team tournament as a success, saying: “Every team played at a high level. Teams from every continent scored goals and earned at least one point.

“Nine out of 10 African teams reached the knockout stage. At the last World Cup, ‌there were only five teams from Africa. That just goes to show how important it ​is to include all teams, to give them this opportunity to participate,” he added.

The size of the World Cup field was increased to 32 teams in 1998. The ⁠next finals in 2030 are to be co-hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain, and the 2034 tournament will be in Saudi Arabia.

Infantino defends hydration breaks and ticket prices

Infantino, who rarely gives media interviews and has limited ‌his number of formal press conferences, admitted that introducing hydration breaks during each half, which many have seen as a cynical attempt to help television partners get more advertising revenue, had proved controversial.

“This is a topic that sparks a lot of debate. After all, we don’t want to get everything perfect; we like to give everyone something to disagree with… no, joking aside. Last year, during the Club World Cup in the USA, there were cooling breaks whenever it was very hot.

“These short breaks occurred in ‌about 60% of the matches but not in the other 40% because the temperature wasn’t as high. There were many ​complaints, as the feeling was that all teams should face the same conditions,” he said.

He also defended the high ticket prices at the World Cup, saying: “The stadiums are full; ⁠capacity utilisation is at 99.7% and it will likely reach 99.9% by the end.

“Experts determined the ticket prices ⁠before the tournament. Our experts worked on that and told us: ‘These are the prices you can go with’. We see the proof now: prices that some people claimed were too high ‌are being resold on the secondary market —which is perfectly legal here — for four or five times the original cost.”

Infantino said he expected FIFA to generate a total of 13 to 14 billion ​Swiss francs ($16.08 billion to $17.32 billion) from the 39-day World Cup. “That is quite satisfactory,” he said.