Gianni Infantino will stand for re-election as FIFA president at the organisation’s Congress in Rabat, Morocco, on 18 March 2027, despite mounting opposition to his leadership.
FIFA confirmed that Infantino intends to seek another term after he announced his candidacy at the governing body’s 76th Congress in Vancouver. He has led FIFA since 2016 and was re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023. ([inside.fifa.com](https://inside.fifa.com/organisation/congress/media-releases/congress-highlights-world-cup-vehicle-unite-the-world))
The election comes after a major backlash over a plan to create a commercial subsidiary partly owned by private investors. The proposal, which would have given outside investors an interest in FIFA’s competitions, was withdrawn on 1 August following widespread criticism.
UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF were among those to raise concerns about the plan. European football leaders had threatened a boycott of FIFA competitions before receiving assurances that the proposal would not be revived in its previous form. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/76169d3e9bb68f4d174b3c87f6b53e50))
FIFA has acknowledged that mistakes were made in the handling of the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise and said the initiative had been taken off the table. The organisation also reaffirmed its support for Infantino after a crisis meeting involving senior officials in Morocco. ([lemonde.fr](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/sports/article/2026/08/06/fifa-s-infantino-clings-to-title-after-private-investment-plan-scandal_6756209_9.html))
Infantino has resisted calls to resign and has used recent visits to highlight FIFA’s investment in national football associations. At the Vancouver Congress, he said FIFA had invested 5 billion US dollars in football development over the past decade and would increase funding through its next development cycle.
The election will be contested by any candidate who secures the necessary support from FIFA member associations. The deadline for nominations is 18 November 2026, leaving opponents of Infantino until then to agree on a challenger.
FIFA has 211 member associations, each with an equal vote in the presidential election. The organisation said the 2027 Congress would be held in Rabat, while an extraordinary virtual Congress is due to take place on 23 November 2026 to appoint the hosts of the 2031 and 2035 Women’s World Cups. ([inside.fifa.com](https://inside.fifa.com/organisation/congress/media-releases/congress-highlights-world-cup-vehicle-unite-the-world))
