Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is weighing a bid to challenge Gianni Infantino for the Fifa presidency, according to BBC Sport. Senior figures in European football have been pressing the 77-year-old Frenchman to enter the race for months, and he is now seriously considering the prospect.
Infantino's position has weakened following fierce opposition to his abandoned plan to sell commercial stakes in the World Cup to private investors. However, the incumbent retains backing across South America, Africa and Asia, and has publicly claimed support from the "vast, vast majority" of world football's membership. A contest against Wenger could test that assertion.
Wenger, who joined Fifa as chief of global football development in 2019, would carry substantial credibility. He previously backed the scrapping of the private investment plan, calling it "absolutely necessary and beyond question." He would also enjoy the backing of Uefa, which has led the charge against Infantino's leadership.
Those close to Wenger indicate he has not yet made a final decision. Even if he does stand, sources believe Infantino remains the favourite to secure a fourth and final term. Some senior European football officials have suggested they would accept Wenger winning the election on the condition he step down before completing a full four-year mandate.
Who else is running?
The field is already taking shape ahead of the election scheduled for March 2027. Former Tottenham and Celtic defender Ramon Vega became the first candidate to announce his intention to stand in October. Japan Football Association honorary president Kozo Tashima has since declared his candidacy.
The deadline for candidates to formally confirm their entry into the race is 18 November. A presidential candidate requires endorsements from five national associations, and defeating Infantino would require 106 votes from Fifa's 211 member associations.
What is the controversy surrounding Infantino?
The Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal, revealed in late July, would have allowed private investors to acquire stakes in Fifa's premium competitions, including the World Cup. The plan triggered immediate backlash from European football officials and was withdrawn after sustained pressure.
Infantino apologised for the scheme at a council meeting last month but declined to provide a detailed explanation of how it was developed, instead requesting that questions be submitted in writing. Fifa subsequently announced that key documents relating to the proposal would be made available to council members, though they must travel to Zurich to inspect them in person under strict protocols.
Uefa issued a deadline of 2 November for Fifa to release full details about the FFE proposal and answer questions about the decision-making process. Fifa has since stated that the withdrawn proposal will not return in any form, with lawyers briefing the Council on its legal background, which remains confidential because of ongoing proceedings in the United States.
What is Fifa's alternative plan?
Fifa has proposed a Surplus Solidarity Programme designed to raise planned development funding for 2027–2030 to USD 6.35 billion, including up to USD 25 million per member association. This initiative appears intended to address concerns about Fifa's financial commitments to its membership while moving past the failed investment scheme.
What happens next?
The Fifa Council is scheduled to consider the detailed Surplus Solidarity Programme framework at its December 2026 meeting, with the programme then going to the 77th Fifa Congress for approval in March 2027. That congress will also host the presidential election, meaning candidates and member associations will be voting on both Infantino's leadership and the new financial framework simultaneously.
