Emmanuel Macron has offered to support Arsène Wenger in a possible candidacy for FIFA president aimed at replacing Gianni Infantino. According to information from “The Telegraph” (like WELT, part of the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network), the French president has offered to promote his candidacy to other world leaders. Macron is said to have turned to his compatriot Wenger to convince him to announce his candidacy.
It is a crucial measure in the run-up to November 18th. Candidacies for the office of FIFA President must be submitted by this deadline. Wenger, who publicly condemned Infantino's abandoned plan to market the World Cup, is seen as Europe's best hope to replace the controversial soccer official.
The Telegraph recently reported that European soccer officials have been urging the former Arsenal manager to take on Infantino over the past six weeks. If Macron now publicly expresses his support, he would become Wenger's most influential supporter. However, it is unclear whether Wenger will accept the French president's offer of support and actually run.
There are certainly reservations about Macron's commitment, as there is a negative attitude in Africa towards the former colonial power France. “He (Macron, editor) has offered to help, but there are concerns,” a source familiar with the talks told the Telegraph. “If he campaigns in West Africa, it could have a detrimental effect on Wenger.”
In the almost ten years of his presidency, Macron's relations with the former colonies have deteriorated. In 2025, Macron was accused of insulting “all Africans” after claiming that leaders on the continent had forgotten to thank French military operations to combat insurgencies.
Paris has also lost influence in its former colonies – Mali, Niger, Ivory Coast and Chad – as it has been outmaneuvered there by Russia and China.
If Wenger wants to oust Infantino, he must secure the votes of African football associations. The FIFA president has spent a lot of time lobbying across the African continent and the Middle East to secure the 106 votes he needs for re-election.
UEFA has not yet named a candidate but would back Wenger if he entered the race. However, UEFA should not actively work to ensure that he runs. If Wenger decides not to run, UEFA will support Kozo Tashima, the head of the Japanese Football Association.
Meanwhile, political pressure on FIFA in the USA is growing. The Telegraph reported Tuesday that Infantino is expected to appear before the House Judiciary Committee. The investigation into FIFA's ties to Donald Trump is expanding after Democrats took control of the House of Representatives with their landslide victory in the midterm elections.
Documents have been requested in connection with The Telegraph's investigation, according to which Infantino is said to have instructed Carlos Cordeiro, his main intermediary with Trump, to help obtain a work permit for an immigrant domestic worker in his luxury home in Miami. FIFA denies any wrongdoing.
Infantino was already under intense scrutiny over his ties to the US president and his entourage after secretly holding talks to sell a share of the World Cup rights to a company owned by the brother of Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law. According to one source, it is “quite possible” that the Kushners could also be called as witnesses in January. However, a subpoena for Trump is not expected at this time.
The Axel Springer Global Reporters Network is a cross-brand initiative that publishes scoops, investigative research, interviews, opinion pieces and analysis of global relevance. Journalists from all Axel Springer brands – including POLITICO, Business Insider, WELT, BILD, Onet and Fakt – collaborate on big stories for an international audience. The reporting extends across all Axel Springer platforms: online, print, TV and audio. Together, these publications reach hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
