FIFA Presidency: Philippe Diallo Backs Arsène Wenger's Potential Candidacy Against Infantino

Arsène Wenger is taking a step closer to a FIFA presidency candidacy: Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation, confirmed on Thursday to Ouest-France that he would be ready to support the former Arsenal manager if he entered the race.

“He has undeniable legitimacy in football. He also has international renown, which is perhaps an important factor as well. So he obviously ticks many boxes to be a candidate,” Diallo said. The official tempered his enthusiasm, however: “It’s often also a personal matter, knowing whether you want to commit to a campaign that is necessarily demanding. And so, ultimately, it’s a decision that belongs to him.”

Wenger, currently FIFA’s director of global football development, has so far remained silent on his ambitions. He recently distanced himself from Gianni Infantino’s project to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors, an initiative that sparked strong opposition from UEFA and many federations.

This controversy has weakened Infantino’s position in the wake of a 2026 World Cup that was nonetheless presented as a financial success. Several football figures had called for his resignation, but failed to shake the Italian-Swiss-Lebanese official, who remains in contention for a new term.

The FIFA presidency election is approaching, and opponents of Infantino are still searching for a credible candidate capable of challenging him. Wenger’s candidacy, if it materializes, would represent the most serious alternative identified so far. No official announcement has yet been made by the person concerned.