UEFA outlines the profile it wants to replace Infantino as FIFA chief

FIFA President Gianni Infantino gestured to the crowd as he attended the Women’s U20 World Cup opening match between Poland and Argentina in Katowice, Poland, on Saturday, Sept 5 2026. At the same time, UEFA released a detailed description of the kind of president it wants to see replace Infantino at FIFA.

UEFA sets out the ideal FIFA president

UEFA said the new leader must be a respected and unifying figure, deeply rooted in football, with the vision and experience to lead the global game. The body added that the candidate should represent FIFA globally and provide leadership without exercising management functions.

These criteria were outlined after a meeting of UEFA’s 55 member federations on Thursday, where a strategy was shaped to find an opponent for Infantino before the Nov 18 deadline.

Political backdrop and financial stakes

UEFA confirmed that Aleksander Ceferin will not be the candidate; he will instead stand for re‑election for a fourth and final term on April 22 in Astana, Kazakhstan. Both Ceferin and Infantino were first elected in 2016 and now seek fourth terms that would run to 2031.

Infantino’s secretive plan to sell stakes in the World Cup and other tournaments to private investors was quickly defeated, heightening UEFA’s unease. UEFA also repeated its promise that every FIFA member should receive a one‑off $10 million dividend from the governing body’s reserves, which stand at close to $6 billion after the men’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Ramon Vega, invited to Kate and William's wedding, targets FIFA

Governance concerns and rival challengers

UEFA warned of ‘executive interference’ at FIFA and urged that appointments and the work of oversight bodies be protected from presidential meddling. It cited recent controversies over eligibility decisions involving Cristiano Ronaldo, United States forward Folarin Balogun and Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, as well as the insertion of Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami into the 2025 Club World Cup without clear consultation.

The reform slate was backed by all UEFA members except Azerbaijan, which pledged its vote to Infantino; one of Infantino’s key aides hails from that country. The list also includes a clause that no FIFA resources may be used for personal or electoral interests.

While UEFA plotted its strategy, Infantino travelled to Cape Verde where he received a standing ovation at a gathering of the 54 African FIFA member federations, urged on by FIFA vice‑president Patrice Motsepe. He reminded African voters that the FIFA Forward programme has invested $1 billion in Africa over ten years, $500 million in the last four, covering 124 projects.

Former Switzerland and Tottenham defender Ramon Vega announced a second bid to challenge Infantino after his 2019 attempt fell short of the required five supporting federations. It remains unclear whether Vega meets the eligibility test that demands a recognised role in soccer for at least two of the past five years.