Opinions, analysis and commentary
Aleksander Ceferin and Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa are the two most credible names positioned to challenge Gianni Infantino for the top job in March 2027. Both hold FIFA vice-presidential status through their confederation roles, and both have publicly demanded that Infantino step down since his FIFA Forward Enterprise plan collapsed under pressure from UEFA, the AFC, and CONCACAF. Nasser Al-Khelaifi’s withdrawal from contention in July 2026 removed Europe’s preferred unifying candidate, leaving these two veteran administrators as the field’s realistic contenders heading into the Rabat congress.
Nasser Al-Khelaifi had been the name European football wanted most. The Paris Saint-Germain president and chair of the European Football Clubs body was widely tipped as UEFA’s preferred candidate to unseat Infantino. That speculation ended on 31 July 2026, when his spokesperson closed the door.
His camp described him as having no ambition, no intention, and no interest in the top job at football’s governing body. He confirmed afterward he intended to remain PSG president, avoiding public criticism of Infantino to dodge speculation.
Two contenders stand above the rest as realistic threats to a fourth Infantino term. Ceferin has led UEFA since 2016 and sits on the FIFA board as an automatic vice president, while Sheikh Salman has run the AFC since 2013 and holds the title of Senior Vice President.
| Candidate | Current Role | Confederation Voting Bloc | Prior FIFA Election History |
| Aleksander Ceferin | UEFA President since 2016, term ends 2027 | UEFA: 55 members, all FIFA members | Never run for FIFA presidency, unconfirmed candidate |
| Sheikh Salman | AFC President since 2013, FIFA Senior Vice President, term ends 2027 | AFC: 47 members, 46 FIFA members | Lost to Infantino in 2016: 85 vs 88 Round 1, 88 vs 115 Round 2 |
The numbers make the contrast clear. Ceferin brings UEFA’s full 55-member bloc and no electoral scar tissue, while Sheikh Salman brings the AFC’s 47 members and the only prior head-to-head experience against Infantino.
Ceferin has run UEFA since September 2016 and is midway through what he confirmed would be his final term, having ruled out re-election in February 2024. That decision came despite reforms letting him serve until 2031.
UEFA’s 55 members are all FIFA members too, giving Ceferin’s confederation more voting power than any other. He has openly clashed with Infantino, most visibly by skipping the 2026 World Cup final over the disputed handling of a red card involving Folarin Balogun. Asked in late 2025 whether he would stand for the top job, he gave a one-word answer, no, and that refusal has never been formally withdrawn.
Sheikh Salman is the only figure in this race who has already taken Infantino the distance. He entered the February 2016 election in Zurich as favourite, backed by both CAF’s 54 votes and the AFC’s then 46 votes. He finished three votes behind Infantino in round one, 85 to 88.
Prince Ali’s supporters swung behind Infantino in the second round, and the final tally landed at 115 for Infantino against 88 for Sheikh Salman. He has led the AFC since 2013 and also serves as FIFA’s Senior Vice President, though term limits mean his current AFC term, ending in 2027, will be his last.
Since the Forward Enterprise plan collapsed, he joined Ceferin and CONCACAF’s Victor Montagliani in publicly calling for Infantino to resign. His decade running Asian football makes him a genuine threat, though questions tied to Bahrain’s 2011 crackdown still follow him.
Winning the top job requires a majority of the 211 member associations in a second round if nobody secures two-thirds in the first. Infantino enters with CAF’s 54 members and broad CONMEBOL support, though reports in August 2026 suggest that bloc is not as locked in as it looks.
UEFA’s 55 members and the AFC’s 47 have both opposed the Forward Enterprise plan, and CONCACAF’s 41 rejected it too, a combined 143 votes. The nomination deadline falls on 18 November 2026, leaving only months for either man to move from opposition to declared candidacy. Whether Ceferin reverses his refusal or Sheikh Salman steps forward will decide whether the FIFA presidency election Ceferin-Sheikh Salman storyline becomes an actual contest or another uncontested coronation.
Which of these two veterans do you think has the better shot at unseating Infantino in Rabat? Drop your prediction below as the nomination deadline approaches.
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Who could challenge Gianni Infantino for FIFA president in 2027?
The most plausible challengers are UEFA president Ceferin and AFC president Sheikh Salman. Both have publicly demanded Infantino resign alongside CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani after the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan collapsed.
Why did Al-Khelaifi turn down the FIFA presidency?
Al-Khelaifi’s spokesperson ruled out any interest in the top job on 31 July 2026. He confirmed afterward that he intended to remain Paris Saint-Germain president after their UEFA Super Cup win.
What happened when Sheikh Salman ran for FIFA president in 2016?
Sheikh Salman entered the 2016 election as favourite but lost to Infantino in the second round. He took 85 votes in round one and 88 in the decisive round, against Infantino’s 115.
Is Aleksander Ceferin allowed to run for FIFA president?
Yes, no FIFA rule stops a sitting confederation president from entering the race. Ceferin confirmed in February 2024 that he would not seek another UEFA term, leaving him free to run.
When is the next FIFA presidential election?
The next FIFA presidential election falls on 18 March 2027 in Rabat, Morocco. Candidates must formally declare their candidacy by the nomination deadline of 18 November 2026, months before the vote.
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