Ceferin rejects FIFA bid as Infantino awaits possible rival in 2027 election

Aleksander Ceferin has ruled out standing against Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency, leaving the incumbent as the only officially declared candidate for the 2027 election and keeping the identity of any potential challenger uncertain.

The president of UEFA said he had no interest in taking charge of world football’s governing body and instead remained committed to his work with European football’s governing organisation, which he has led since 2016.

Speaking to the British podcast The Rest Is Politics, the Slovenian said: “I am not interested” in becoming FIFA president.

Ceferin added that his credibility as one of Infantino’s leading critics would be greater if he was not personally seeking the position.

His decision comes amid escalating tensions between UEFA and Infantino, particularly over plans associated with the FIFA president to open the organisation to investors. Those proposals prompted growing opposition from European football’s governing body and its allies.

UEFA had threatened to boycott all FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, before the controversial project was withdrawn. However, the move did not alter UEFA’s position on Infantino remaining in office.

Ceferin said there were two possible scenarios. The first was that Infantino would recognise he did not have enough support to secure re-election. The alternative was for him to contest the vote, in which case Ceferin expected another candidate to emerge.

But the UEFA president admitted he did not yet know who that challenger would be.

Media reports have suggested Victor Montagliani could enter the race. The Canadian is president of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), and could potentially seek to oppose Infantino as links strengthen between the confederations that have criticised the FIFA president.

Those groupings include UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation.

Infantino has responded to criticism by insisting that FIFA must work to develop football across all of its 211 member associations. He has also argued that the organisation should help reduce the gap between the biggest football nations and the rest of the world.

Ceferin used the interview to challenge that argument, criticising FIFA’s references to “arrogant Europe”. He pointed out that Infantino is himself European and that the current FIFA president reached office with the backing of UEFA.

The FIFA presidential election is scheduled to take place in March 2027 in Rabat, Morocco. Any candidate will need to win a majority of the votes cast by FIFA’s 211 member associations.

Infantino remains the only person to have formally announced a candidacy. Ceferin’s decision not to stand means the election remains open to a possible rival from outside UEFA, although no such candidate has yet been confirmed.

The vote will therefore take place against the backdrop of a continuing dispute between FIFA’s leadership and UEFA, despite the withdrawal of the investment plans that triggered the latest escalation in relations.