Gianni Infantino to Run for FIFA Presidency in 2027 Despite Backlash Over Abandoned Private Investment Plan

PARIS (AFP) -- Gianni Infantino will run in next March's FIFA presidential election, despite the backlash over his now-abandoned plan to bring private investment into the World Cup, soccer's global governing body announced Sunday.

"The FIFA President announced in April that he will run for reelection in 2027," a FIFA spokesperson said. "Of course, nothing has changed. Mr. Infantino will be running for reelection." The 56-year-old Swiss has taken a pummeling since the announcement in late July of his short-lived FIFA Forward Enterprise plan to bring private investment into FIFA events.

But now for the first time since the plan became public, FIFA has reiterated Infantino's intention to run for a fourth and final term in next year's elections.

Should he be reelected, he will continue to serve as head of world soccer until 2031.

Infantino is in Poland for the Women's U-20 World Cup, but refused to answer queries about his future when questioned by journalists on Saturday.

European body UEFA has accused Infantino of "criminal mismanagement" over the scheme and was the ringleader of the initial fightback to the announcement, including threatening to boycott all FIFA competitions, including the men's and women's World Cups, if it was not shelved.

If UEFA withdrew its threat to boycott FIFA tournaments on Aug. 27 -- ahead of the Women's U-20 World Cup in Poland -- it remains absolute in its conviction that Infantino must depart his role.

The European body has filed requests in the US for the disclosure of documents related to the plan from FIFA and partners.

If successful in gaining access to the documents, UEFA had said it intends to file a legal complaint in Switzerland, saying it has been assured the case would meet the requirements to be heard in a Swiss court.

It has also found solid support from North American body CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation in its actions against Infantino.

The three confederations have kept up the pressure and collaborated on a no-holds-barred joint letter issued last month. "Leadership in football is not a possession. It is not about holding -- or demanding -- power to be held," they wrote.

CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani is widely seen as the likeliest challenger to Infantino -- UEFA boss Aleksander Ceferin has ruled himself out. Montagliani, a FIFA vice president, had long been regarded as a close ally of Infantino, but there were signs, even before he distanced himself over the now-scrapped plan to allow private investment into World Cups, that he viewed FIFA's purpose somewhat differently from the Swiss.

But Infantino is not without friends -- 2034 World Cup host Saudi Arabia came out in support last month, with African soccer's governing body CAF and South America's CONMEBOL supportive, too.

Earlier in September, FIFA also accused UEFA of a "smear campaign" and a "fishing expedition" against Infantino.

As the only declared candidate so far for the election due to take place in Rabat, Infantino will need a simple majority of votes from the 211 federations affiliated to FIFA to extend his term of office, which began in 2016 and was renewed in 2023.

Candidate nominations for next year's election must be submitted by Nov. 18.