Opinions, analysis and commentary
Three names are drawing real attention ahead of the November 18 nomination deadline, and only one appears to have a coalition path that stretches across multiple confederations at once. FIFA’s position has weakened fast in recent weeks. A senior adviser has resigned, the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan has triggered a full continental boycott, and once-loyal confederations are now openly calling for governance reform. That sudden instability is what’s opened the door for a genuinely competitive challenge for the first time in nearly a decade.
Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino’s special adviser, resigned following the collapse of confidence around the FFE project. FIFA’s own chief operating officer told the press the administration had been misled about how the proposal was developed. UEFA’s 55 members then voted unanimously to boycott FIFA competitions entirely.
The Asian confederation, once a reliable ally, has called for urgent governance reform of its own. Three confederation presidents are now reportedly in active discussions about mounting a challenge before the deadline closes.
None of that guarantees a challenger files. FIFA has run unopposed elections before, and Infantino’s operation still controls patronage across smaller federations. But the scale of dissent now is unlike anything since the last contested race.
The candidate field breaks down clearly once you compare confederation size against political neutrality, and neither factor alone decides who has the best shot.
| Candidate | Confederation | Prior Experience | Perceived Chances |
| Victor Montagliani | CONCACAF (41 members) | Canada Soccer president; 2026 WC co-architect; re-elected 2023 | High, most diplomatically neutral candidate in the field |
| Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa | AFC (47 members) | AFC president since 2013; FIFA senior VP; lost to Infantino in 2016 | Strong, guaranteed AFC backing and knows the machinery |
| Aleksander Čeferin | UEFA (55 members) | UEFA president since 2016; led the boycott | Lower, 55 UEFA votes alone fall short of a majority |
Montagliani is reportedly making active moves toward a March 2027 challenge, and his positioning explains why. He has opposed a biennial World Cup, expressed reservations about a 64-team expansion, and managed Copa America tensions without alienating rival blocs.
CONCACAF’s 41 members rejected the FFE plan but stopped short of a full boycott, which is precisely the principled but pragmatic stance that travels beyond his own confederation. Undecided associations in Oceania and smaller federations elsewhere tend to respond better to a moderate than to a bloc leader.
That distinction is why Montagliani’s name keeps surfacing ahead of bigger confederation figures. A candidate who led a boycott has already picked a side in a fight that hasn’t fully played out, while a candidate who criticised the plan from a distance can still credibly court votes from associations that haven’t committed either way.
Čeferin would hold serious sway if he entered the race directly, given his role leading the boycott. But he has also signalled a preference to remain in his current UEFA post rather than run himself.
That points toward a different kind of influence. Čeferin’s most consequential move before November 18 might be an endorsement rather than a candidacy, backing a challenger who can pull votes from outside Europe instead of running as a regional candidate who gets dismissed as parochial. An endorsement from the man who organised the boycott would carry weight with all 55 UEFA associations, whether or not he ever puts his own name on a ballot paper.
Sheikh Salman has AFC’s 47 votes locked in but carries the scar tissue of an 115-88 defeat to Infantino in the second round back in 2016. That history cuts both ways: proven organisational reach, but also proof the incumbent can be beaten in the room.
Patrice Motsepe of CAF is reportedly eyeing a run in 2031 instead, when FIFA’s own statutes would force Infantino out under the 12-year term limit. That leaves this cycle as the realistic window for anyone hoping to beat him while he’s still eligible to stand.
CAF’s absence from the conversation matters too. Africa’s votes remain the single biggest uncommitted bloc, and Motsepe’s eventual backing, even informal, would instantly reshape the frontrunner picture. Of the names being discussed, the FIFA president candidates replace Infantino conversation keeps circling back to Montagliani as the one already moving.
Which of the three names in that table would you back to actually file before November 18? Drop your pick below.
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When is the next FIFA presidential election?
The next FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March 2027 in Rabat, Morocco. Candidate nominations for the 77th FIFA Congress must be formally filed by November 18, 2026, at the latest.
Who is Victor Montagliani?
Montagliani is CONCACAF’s president, in the role since 2012 and re-elected for a further term in 2023. He previously led Canada Soccer and co-architected the 2026 World Cup bid across three host nations.
Who is Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa?
Sheikh Salman is the AFC president, unopposed for a fourth term running through 2027. He challenged Infantino for the top job in 2016 and lost 115-88 in the second round.
Is Aleksander Čeferin eligible to run for FIFA president?
Yes, Čeferin is eligible through his membership as UEFA president. He has signalled a preference to stay in his current role but could still file before the deadline.
How many terms can a FIFA president serve?
FIFA’s statutes cap a president at 12 years in total. Infantino’s partial completion of Sepp Blatter’s term from 2016 to 2019 may not count fully, potentially extending his run to 2031.
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