With less than two weeks to go before the deadline, more and more candidates are coming forward to run in the FIFA presidential election. But who are the candidates that look to take the fight to FIFA President Gianni Infantino?
Confirmed candidates
Gianni Infantino (incumbent)
He’s not taking the fight to himself, but he’s vying for a fourth term as FIFA president: Gianni Infantino has been the most powerful man in football for over 10 years. After initially taking over from the disgraced Sepp Blatter, Infantino was re-elected twice and is aiming for a third term, despite heavy outside criticism.
The sitting FIFA president managed to convince the FIFA Council that his first term was not a full term because it completed an interrupted mandate. It therefore does not count towards the three-term limit, the FIFA Council confirmed after a unanimous vote. Human rights group FairSquare has written to member associations urging them to declare him ineligible, while Miguel Maduro, the former head of FIFA’s governance committee, argued that “the text of the provision is clear; it talks about three terms. It makes no distinction on whether these terms are complete terms or incomplete terms, four-year terms or terms that may be shorter than the four years.”
Infantino’s presidency has been riddled with controversy, with the latest, the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, costing the Italian-Swiss nearly heaps of support – nearly 100 FIFA members have publicly withdrawn their backing for Infantino since August 2026.
To read all about Gianni Infantino’s presidency and controversies, read our full article HERE >>>
Ramon Vega
Swiss former player Ramon Vega was the first to formally announce his candidacy for the FIFA presidential election. Vega, 55, declared his intention to run for FIFA president in October and formally announced his candidacy on November 4th.
After Sepp Blatter stood down in 2015, former Spurs and Celtic defender Vega considered running as well, but ultimately decided against it. Now, he runs with an agenda that “serves football and the people who give the game its life.”
In an exclusive interview with Flashscore, Vega explained what’s wrong with Infantino’s reign: “There are several, but the recent period is clearly the worst chapter of all. The fundamental issues are honesty, transparency, and the integrity of football. These are essential pillars that cannot simply be sidelined. But the past is the past; we need to look forward. The reality is that all we ever talk about now is money, not the game of football itself, which desperately needs to be reformed.”
As FIFA President, Vega would welcome dialogue to end FIFA’s autocracy, while calling for responsibility for the president.
“The main point is to restructure and restore the dialogue, alongside a deep reform in FIFA’s governance, focusing on proper implementation and consultation. Within the first 100 days, we need to bring all stakeholders to the table – players, leagues, everyone – because there has to be democratic dialogue. We also need to discuss the international match calendar to establish a solid foundation for the format of the game.”
As of November 5th, it has not been confirmed that Vega has the required backing from five FIFA members, though Vega assured Flashscore that “the support is there.”
Kozo Tashima
Honorary Japanese FA President Kozo Tashima formally announced his FIFA presidential bid on November 5th. Tashima, 68, is a long-time member of the FIFA Council, the institution’s highest decision-making body, having joined in 2015.
Tashima, a 7-time Japanese international, graduated from the German Sports University Cologne and has served on the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) Executive Committee. Tashima recently resigned as JFA vice president after the AFC announced its support for sitting FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
“It’s not about winning or losing but about conveying to the world the honest, sound and upright attitude that Japanese football has built. What FIFA needs now are these values that we have protected. I have decided to run in order to make this appeal to the world,” Tashima said after his announcement.
Tashima enjoys the full support of the JFA, but needs support from four more FIFA members.
Rumoured candidates
Arsene Wenger
With UEFA still eagerly looking for their preferred candidate for the FIFA presidential election, The Times and L’Equipe reported in October that the European football governing body is considering fielding Arsene Wenger, who currently works as FIFA’s chief of global football development.
The 77-year-old Frenchman was quick to condemn Infantino’s failed World Cup sell-off scheme, the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, in August, stating that “the decision to withdraw the project was absolutely necessary and beyond question, because I firmly believe in an independent FIFA that serves our game with commitment, transparency, and integrity.”
The former Arsenal boss enjoys the support of the French FA (FFF), whose president, Philippe Diallo, emphasised Wenger’s qualities in an interview with Ouest-France.
“His qualities are beyond question. Moreover, he enjoys international renown, which may well be another important factor. He therefore clearly meets many of the criteria required to be considered as a candidate. However, in matters such as these, it is above all a personal decision: is someone willing to commit to something that will inevitably demand a great deal of them? Ultimately, therefore, it is a decision that rests with him,” said Diallo, who revealed that UEFA had approached several candidates.
Michele Kang
The second alleged name on UEFA’s list of preferred candidates is that of Michele Kang, the 67-year-old American businesswoman and owner and president of OL Lyonnes, London City Lionesses, Washington Spirit, and Olympique Lyonnais. Kang entered women’s football in 2020, becoming the majority owner of the WNSL’s Spirit three years before acquiring Olympique Lyonnais’ women’s team and the WSL’s Lionesses.
The South Korean-born entrepreneur acknowledged that she didn’t know much about the sport before the USA’s World Cup win in 2019: “I didn’t even know who (Lionel) Messi was. If the US women’s national team didn’t win the World Cup in 2019, there would not have been a celebration on Capitol Hill, and I would not have been invited to the reception. That’s where I first learned about the professional women’s league, as well as a team called Washington Spirit.”
Her key to success is to have the right team around her, she told the Financial Times: “I didn’t know anything about football. But if there is such a thing as my secret formula, it’s to surround yourself with the best people, who are smarter than you. I hire the best coach, best general manager, technical director. If I’m gonna fiddle with their decision-making, why am I hiring them?”
Kang is often criticised as a club owner for her exorbitant spending on fees and wages, which distort the market, and multi-club ownership at the highest level. She’s also a frequent donor to US football, having donated over $50 million to support U.S. Soccer’s women’s and girls’ programs.
Lise Klaveness
The third name on UEFA’s alleged list is Lise Klaveness, the current president of the Norwegian FA (NFF). Klaveness was the first woman elected NFF President in 2022 and is a long-time opponent of Infantino.
Before becoming NFF president, Klaveness was a long-time Norwegian international, playing 73 games for the former World Cup champions. Klaveness is also a specialist in employment law, a deputy judge in the Oslo court, and a former manager board member of the Norwegian Players’ Association.
Klaveness criticised FIFA and Infantino for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the treatment of migrant workers and LGBTQ+ supporters in the Gulf state, questioned the bidding process for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, which she said heavily favoured Saudi Arabia, called for the abolition of the FIFA Peace Prize in April 2026, led widespread outrage over FIFA’s decision to overturn USA striker Folarin Balogun’s suspension for the round of 16 at the World Cup, and took the forefront in UEFA’s opposition to the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal.
The Times and L’Equipe revealed that Klaveness was on UEFA’s list, but the NFF President herself was not sure about running for FIFA president just yet, she told The Guardian.
“My name has come up a few times, and I take it as a sign that people are concerned about governance because we have been very outspoken about governance. We’ve had a role internationally that is not the most efficient way to get votes. I think we’ve been very outspoken, so this time around I don’t think that would be a possibility for me, and it’s not been a real subject for me either.”
FAQ
When is the deadline for potential FIFA presidential candidates?
The deadline for FIFA presidential candidates to officially submit their bid, backed by five FIFA members, is 23.59 CEST on Wednesday, November 18th.
What do FIFA presidential candidates need for an official bid?
Per the FIFA Statutes, candidates for the FIFA presidential election need the backing of five of the 211 FIFA members before they can officially enter.
When is the FIFA presidential election?
The FIFA presidential election will be held during the 77th FIFA Congress on Thursday, March 18th.
Who are the confirmed candidates for the FIFA presidential election?
As of November 5th, sitting FIFA president Gianni Infantino, former Swiss defender Ramon Vega, and former JFA President Kozo Tashima are the only candidates with confirmed bids.
Could Gianni Infantino lose the FIFA presidential election?
Gianni Infantino could lose the election, though it’s looking unlikely, with the AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL, and OFC having confirmed their backing of the sitting president. As of November 5th, over 120 of the 211 FIFA members have confirmed their support for Infantino.