By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The embattled Fifa president Gianni Infantino will stand for re-election, the world governing body has confirmed on Sunday, 06 September 2026.
Infantino has been under pressure to resign after he tried to sell a stake in FIFA tournaments to private investors.
He has refused to step down and he is likely to face a challenger in the vote which will be held at the FIFA Congress on Thursday, 18 March 2027 in Rabat, Morocco.
“The Fifa president announced in April that he will stand for re-election in 2027,” read a Fifa statement.
“Of course, nothing has changed. Mr Infantino will be standing for re-election.”
Infantino refused to answer questions about his future when asked by reporters at the Women’s Under-20 World Cup in Poland on Saturday.
It is the first time Fifa has said he will run for a fourth term since the plan was announced following the summer’s World Cup.
Fifa rules says a president can serve a maximum of four terms. Should the 56-year-old Swiss be re-elected, he will serve until 2031.
No candidates to challenge Infantino have been named, although Concacaf president Victor Montagliani is considered a serious option. Nominations must be submitted by 18 November.