Infantino in a comfortable position against 'UEFA'

Five months before the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) presidential election scheduled for March 2027, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and its Slovenian president, Aleksander Čeferin, are struggling to find a candidate to challenge Gianni Infantino. Despite his weakened position, Infantino currently appears well-placed to continue heading the global governing body. The crisis sparked by Infantino immediately after the World Cup, through his stalled project to create a commercial company open to private investors named “FIFA Forward Enterprise,” has convinced UEFA that it is time to end the era of the Italian-Swiss official, which began in 2016. However, the challenge lies in finding the right figure to represent and unify the growing opposition, with the aim of ousting the man Čeferin has described as an “emperor” during the General Assembly of the European Club Association on September 29. Despite behind-the-scenes consultations and a unified stance displayed by European federations (UEFA), North American (CONCACAF), and Asian bodies, these efforts have yet to yield tangible results. Time is running out for everyone, as November 18 has been set as the final deadline for submitting nominations. This candidate cannot be European, as it would clash with concerns from the rest of the world about the dominance of the powerful and wealthy UEFA over FIFA, which would eliminate any chance of winning the election. In this context, Čeferin’s decision not to challenge Infantino himself must be understood, especially as he is receiving pressure from his allies to run again next year for the UEFA presidency. A source close to the global bodies stated, “No European candidate will have any chance.” The idea was to choose a figure close to Čeferin, namely Victor Montagliani, the Canadian president of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), which comprises 35 national federations. Montagliani is known to have significant ambitions for the post-Infantino era, although this is likely to begin in 2031. In the same context, a source close to UEFA told Agence France-Presse several weeks ago, “He is our ideal candidate; he meets all the required criteria. He is not European, which gives him the ability to gain broad support, and he has contributed significantly, particularly in the development of women’s football.” However, the Montagliani option appears to have lost momentum, as the Canadian has not yet announced his candidacy, while the CONCACAF electoral conference in 2027 looms on the horizon, where he may seek a new term. It is undoubtedly difficult to fight two electoral battles simultaneously. The other figure who could have posed a threat to Infantino’s position, Qatari Nasser Al-Khelaifi, president of French club Paris Saint-Germain, has ruled himself out of the race after stating during the European Club Association General Assembly that he “has no interest in FIFA.”