Gianni Infantino, the president of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), has officially announced that he will run in the FIFA presidential elections in ۲۰۲۷. This announcement comes as Infantino faces severe criticism and serious challenges, and it seems that the landscape of world football is changing.
Presidential Challenges and Reactions
Infantino, who was appointed FIFA president in ۲۰۱۶, has come under pressure following the controversial "FIFA Forward Enterprise" program, which was introduced to attract private investments in FIFA events. This program has faced sharp criticism from the European football association (UEFA), which has even threatened to boycott competitions, including the men's and women's World Cups. While Infantino is currently in Poland, there are many questions about his future and how he will manage the crises ahead.
Support and Upcoming Challenges
Despite the severe criticism, Infantino still enjoys some support. The host country of the ۲۰۳۴ World Cup, Saudi Arabia, has recently expressed its support for him, and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) have also backed him. Meanwhile, it seems that Victor Montagliani, the president of the North American Football Confederation (CONCACAF), has emerged as a potential rival to Infantino.
The FIFA presidential elections will be held in March ۲۰۲۷, and Infantino needs a majority of votes from the ۲۱۱ federations affiliated with FIFA to extend his presidency. The deadline for candidate registration for this election is November ۱۸, and now it remains to be seen whether Infantino can achieve success amid the new challenges ahead.
