UEFA prepares candidacy to unseat Infantino from FIFA presidency

Gianni Infantino is omnipresent at the 2026 World Cup — expected in Dallas for France-Spain and then in Atlanta for England-Argentina — but his opponents are working behind the scenes to wrest the FIFA presidency from him as early as next year.

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, whose information corroborates reporting published days earlier by Romain Molina, UEFA is preparing a formal candidacy for the election to the leadership of the global body. UEFA president Aleksandr Ceferin and Nasser Al-Khelaifi, head of the European club association, would not be candidates. The name of Dariusz Mioduski, president of Legia Varsovie, is circulating persistently.

Infantino’s relationship with Donald Trump has crystallized tensions. The awarding of a peace prize to the American president had already drawn criticism; Trump’s call for the lifting of Folarin Balogun’s suspension crossed an additional line in the eyes of many football leaders worldwide, intensifying the cold war between FIFA and UEFA.

Infantino nonetheless has a solid base. The expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams earned him the support of many federations from smaller nations, and he is considering expanding the format to 64 teams for future editions — a promise that keeps allies loyal in the African, Asian, and South American confederations. Building a coalition large enough to defeat him remains the main challenge for his opponents.