FIFA presidential election explained, as Gianni Infantino faces pushback | OneFootball

Gianni Infantino expected a smooth re-election for a fourth and final FIFA term in early 2027. A week of resistance could reshape the race and draw rivals.

According to L'Équipe, the vote will be held at the 77th FIFA Congress beginning on 18 March 2027. The previous congress took place last April in Vancouver.

Rabat will host, the administrative capital of Morocco and a football hub with venues such as the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium. The Mohammed VI complex in Salé, opened in 2019, now houses some FIFA departments ahead of 2030. Infantino convened a crisis meeting there recently and has said he feels at home in Morocco.

More than 2,000 officials from 211 member associations will attend. Each federation has one vote. With one or two candidates, a simple majority of valid ballots decides the presidency through to 2031.

With more than two candidates, two thirds are required in round one. If no one reaches that mark, run-offs eliminate the lowest vote-getter until two remain, when a simple majority suffices. Ballots are secret and cast in English alphabetical order.

Only one declared candidate so far, Infantino seeks a fourth and final term, permitted because his first spell, beginning on 26 February 2016 after an extraordinary congress, was deemed exceptional. He beat Sheikh Salman Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Prince Ali Al Hussein and Jérôme Champagne in that vote.

He was re-elected on 5 June 2019 and on 16 March 2023 in Kigali, the latter effectively by acclamation. When he announced his bid last April, CAF and the AFC backed him, though the AFC has since joined a UEFA-led revolt.

Infantino is the ninth FIFA president. Every holder has come from Europe or South America. After Blatter’s 2015 impeachment, CAF’s Issa Hayatou served in the interim.

Source: L'Équipe

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