Ceferin rules out FIFA bid and warns Infantino of election challenge

Ceferin rules out FIFA bid

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin confirmed that he will not run for the FIFA presidency, while predicting that incumbent Gianni Infantino will face a challenger in the upcoming March election. Ceferin made the remarks during an interview on the podcast The Rest Is Politics: Leading, explaining that remaining in his current post preserves his standing across international football. He noted that his primary commitment remains with European football after years leading the continental body. Ceferin also stated that he had not been in communication with Infantino since the emergence of a disputed commercial investment plan. He argued that stepping away from the global race reinforces his ability to represent European federations effectively.

Let's see till when. And the second point is, my credibility is much, much, much higher if I'm not interested in the position.

Backlash against private investment scheme

The dispute stems from Infantino's abandoned initiative to establish Fifa Forward Enterprise, an entity designed to manage commercial and ticketing rights across all FIFA competitions. Under that framework, the governing body planned to sell a 21% stake to a private investment company before shelving the proposal at the beginning of August. Ceferin characterized the commercialization plan as a more severe threat to the sport than the European Super League project that collapsed in April 2021. He noted that opposition united both large and small associations across UEFA's 55 member federations, citing resistance from England and Germany alongside San Marino, Cyprus, and Liechtenstein. European delegates had formally voted to boycott FIFA tournaments unless the commercial sell-off was completely dropped.

When you compared in the beginning this plan with the Super League plan, I think this plan is even worse than the Super League plan. Football would be literally sold.

Diplomatic rifts and election prospects

Infantino, a 56-year-old Swiss administrator who previously spent 16 years working at UEFA, has traveled internationally to assemble backing ahead of the March election. On 22 August 2026, Infantino met with Caribbean Football Union delegates in the Dominican Republic to seek support. The following day, he attended the Esports World Cup in Paris alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo. Ceferin argued that Infantino has alienated European allies who previously facilitated his rise to global office. Football associations from across the United Kingdom home nations have formally rescinded their endorsement of the FIFA president.

Continental alliances and alternative tournaments

Despite the cancellation of the investment enterprise, UEFA has not withdrawn its threat to boycott FIFA tournaments. The European governing body has coordinated with partners from the Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf, where some regional representatives expressed frustration during Infantino's visit to the Caribbean. Concurrently, UEFA and Concacaf officials are conducting formal discussions regarding the creation of a combined Nations League tournament. Ceferin insisted that Infantino now faces two distinct paths before next year's vote. The FIFA president could choose to step down after acknowledging the loss of institutional trust, or face a contested ballot with an opposing candidate.

There are two options. One option is that he realises that he doesn't have the support, and that's not only a political support of the ones who vote, but the political support of football community, the political support of fans, the political support of the players, former players, coaches. And the second option that he goes to the elections in March, but in that case, I think he will have a candidate against him. I don't know yet who.