Looking for a high-profile candidate for the next FIFA elections: Who could challenge Infantino?

The biggest World Cup to date brought us plenty of excitement, entertainment, drama, and yes controversy. Gianni Infantino was at the center of most that controversy, and now there are people that have him in the crosshairs with many pushing for a change at the helm of FIFA.

Time for a change at the top?

There were winners and there were losers in the 2026 edition of the World Cup. Spain, obviously were the biggest winners, but Erling Haaland came out of his first World Cup with 30 million more followers on social media. Cabo Verde went to the knock out round in their debut tournament. Meanwhile Argentina didn’t just lose the final, but tarnished their image with a display of antics, dark arts and bully ball that caused almost the entire world to root against them. And then there is Gianni Infantino.

The FIFA president didn’t make many fans during the last month and a half. In fact, he did the opposite. While perched up in his birds nest looking down at fans who paid for outrageously priced tickets, watching games that he himself had meddled with by bending the rules of the game, and cashing in on hydration breaks that were used as an excuse for advertising opportunities. The game had a different feel about it, and much of that came directly from above.

Even Sepp Blatter, former FIFA president, who was ejected from his role and banned from the sport claimed things had gotten too far out of hand in this tournament. “Politics must not be allowed to overshadow the game. Now it is up to the fans, players and national associations to reclaim football and bring it back to its roots under new leadership,” said Blatter following a handful of decisions that left the soccer world scratching their heads.

With elections for FIFA president coming in November, Infantino’s job security is at an all time low. The English Football Association has apparently pulled their support from the current president, and there could be others lining up to do the same. Infantino will be hoping to hold on to his job which would keep him in power from 2027-2031, but there are challengers starting to appear as the elections near.

The contenders

Many think Aleksander Cerafin would be the natural option, but he seems to have no interest in leaving his role as the UEFA president. Nasser Al-Khelaifi is another name that has been tossed in the hat. The PSG chairman is a strong armed business man that has seen his team rise to the top of Europe.

One of the candidates who may have the most support, especially around Europe, is Legia Warsaw president Dariusz Mioduski. While supporters of the club he runs are falling out of love with him, the Belgian, Spanish, Norwegian, German and Swedish soccer associations are set to back him, according to Ben Jacobs of talkSPORT.com. In Poland, Mioduski strangely doesn’t have much support, as the association is reportedly backing Al-Khelaifi.

On the other side of the pond, Victor Montagliani could be preparing for a campaign against Infantino. The CONCACAF president is said to want to carry on with his current role, but he has stated his desire to be the head of FIFA one day in the future. Patrice Motsepe feels the same way, but the Africa CAF president may hold off until 2031. There are a handful of candidates that could be lining up a campaign in the next few months, and there could be even more that join the race before nominations close on November 18th.

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