Infantino announces re-election bid as FIFA federations rebuke World Cup privatization plan

Gianni Infantino has announced he will seek a new term as FIFA president in the March 18 election, after UEFA, AFC, and Concacaf rebuked his World Cup privatization plan.

• Infantino told SNTV he will run in the March 18 election, saying his platform is "football for all."
• UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said he does not intend to run against Infantino.
• UEFA, AFC, and Concacaf issued an open letter accusing Infantino of breaking the football system's trust over his plan to sell World Cup commercial stakes to private investors.
• The Egyptian Football Association and six other federations announced support for Infantino, and the Confederation of African Football unanimously reconfirmed its backing.
• Danish FA chief Jesper Moller said FIFA's Legal Committee dodged questions about the abandoned World Cup privatization plan and called for Infantino to quit, citing a 'fundamental crisis of confidence.'
• Several European football associations, including the French and Austrian federations, have withdrawn support for Infantino's re-election ahead of the March 2027 presidential vote in Rabat.
• The abandoned plan had proposed selling a 20% stake in FIFA's commercial rights for the World Cup and other tournaments.
• No official challengers to Infantino have yet been announced for the March 2027 election.