FIFA president Gianni Infantino (right) talks to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin during the 75th FIFA Congress at the CONMEBOL Convention Center in Luque, Paraguay, on May 15, 2025. [Photo/Agencies]
FIFA president Gianni Infantino faces an uphill battle in his re-election bid for a fourth term running through 2031, as a number of national soccer federations, led by Wales, withdrew their support following his failed proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. A few figures have since emerged as potential candidates to replace Infantino at the vote in Morocco next March.
CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani
North American soccer chief and Canadian businessman Victor Montagliani is considering challenging Infantino, according to a report on Friday. CONCACAF rejected Infantino's private equity proposal, but stopped short of calling for an outright boycott as UEFA did.
The 2026 World Cup was the first time the tournament was played in CONCACAF territory since 1994.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin
Slovenian Aleksander Ceferin boycotted the World Cup final last month after a series of disagreements between UEFA and FIFA, and European soccer's governing body emerged as one of the most vocal critics of Infantino in a bruising week for the global soccer boss.
AFC president Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa
A senior vice-president on the FIFA Council, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa from Bahrain is among those who have opposed proposals to expand the World Cup to 64 teams.
The AFC took a jab at Infantino in its opposition to the FIFA boss' private equity proposal, saying the plan "has exposed fundamental weaknesses in FIFA's consultation and decision-making processes that must now be addressed".
Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi
European soccer officials are said to be starting to rally around the Qatari sports executive Nasser Al-Khelaifi as a leading challenger to Infantino, according to a Politico report published last week.
Norwegian Football Federation president Lise Klaveness
One of the most prominent women in global soccer alongside UEFA vice-president Laura McAllister, Norway's Lise Klaveness was among the most vocal leaders in opposing Infantino's plan to sell stakes in the World Cup.
Norway previously weighed up bringing an ethics complaint to FIFA over the decision to suspend a ban imposed on United States forward Folarin Balogun at the World Cup after US President Donald Trump's intervention. The saga brought fresh scrutiny over the relationship between Infantino and the US leader.
