Arsene Wenger is expected to make a final decision this week on whether to stand against Gianni Infantino in the FIFA presidential election, with key stakeholders including UEFA lobbying him to put himself forward before the November 18 candidacy deadline.
Wenger, 77, has served as FIFA's chief of global football development since November 2019 and is regarded as one of the most widely respected figures in the game, making him a serious potential rival to Infantino. His current FIFA contract is due to expire at the end of this year, and the governing body is keen to extend his stay, though continuing in his current role into 2027 could prove difficult if he decides to run, since he would likely need to campaign on an alternative agenda.
Infantino's position has faced intense scrutiny, with multiple calls for him to resign following the launch and subsequent withdrawal of the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, which would have seen FIFA sell a stake in its event and commercial operations, including the World Cup, to private investors. Responding to the plan in an August 4 statement, Wenger said he was "not involved" in its conception and did not know anything about it until it was reported in the media. He added: "The decision to withdraw the project was absolutely necessary and beyond question, because I firmly believe in an independent FIFA that serves our game with commitment, transparency, and integrity."
UEFA's general secretary had earlier written to FIFA demanding answers and documents on several controversies from Infantino's presidency, including the Forward Enterprise plan, by November 2, following the confederation's August statement that it had lost confidence in Infantino and planned to back an alternative candidate.
Wenger was a notable absentee from the FIFA Management Committee's meeting in Rabat, Morocco, on August 5, which saw the organisation's leadership rally around Infantino. Despite that absence, Wenger has still been pictured alongside Infantino as recently as late October, when the pair appeared together in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the inaugural Under-15s World Cup and Festival.
While Wenger would likely be a popular candidate in Europe and could draw support from other confederations, beating Infantino would be a tall order. Infantino remains popular in Africa, the Caribbean, South America and the Middle East, and has also secured the backing of the Asian Football Confederation.
UEFA is not relying solely on Wenger and is also in discussions with other potential candidates, with plans to nominate someone ahead of the November 18 deadline. Any candidate backed by UEFA would need approval from its Executive Committee before being put to the European national associations.
Kozo Tashima, president of the Japan Football Association, announced his intention to challenge Infantino for the FIFA presidency last week, following former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ramon Vega, who declared his candidacy in October. Prospective candidates must secure the backing of five national associations to be eligible to stand, and whoever qualifies will need 106 votes from FIFA's 211 member associations at the FIFA Congress in March to beat Infantino.
