FIFA presidency race remains open

With one month left until the deadline for candidates to announce their bids for the FIFA presidency, the competition for the leadership of world football remains uncertain. Current President Gianni Infantino is still in a strong position, but only former defender Ramon Vega has officially entered the race so far.

Infantino addresses governance concerns

Infantino has publicly apologized for "the errors made during the process aimed at proposing the creation of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE)," an initiative launched after the World Cup that faced significant criticism. Several of his close associates have publicly distanced themselves from him in response to the controversy.

FIFA forms internal review group

In response to the criticism, FIFA announced the formation of a working group made up of members from each confederation to review the organization's governance framework. However, the Global Alliance for Integrity in Sport (SIGA) has criticized this move, arguing that an independent external review is necessary for credible reform.

FIFA reviews controversial award

FIFA also announced that its social responsibility commission will review the FIFA Peace Award, which was first given to Donald Trump in 2025 under unclear circumstances. Many observers believed the award was a gesture from Infantino to the U.S. president. A decision on the award's future will be made during the next Council session in December 2026.

Infantino proposes major funding increase

Infantino has proposed increasing FIFA's investment to 6.35 billion dollars for the development of football across its 211 member associations and other stakeholders. This would more than double the funds allocated during the period 2027-2030. The proposal is expected to be finalized in the coming months and will be put to a vote at the Congress in March.

UEFA and Wenger remain cautious

The UEFA Executive Committee is expected to meet soon to review potential candidates who might challenge Infantino. Meanwhile, Victor Montagliani, president of CONCACAF, has decided not to attend. Arsène Wenger, the legendary Arsenal coach and now Director of Global Football Development at FIFA, has distanced himself from Infantino, emphasizing the need for FIFA to serve football with "commitment, transparency, and integrity." According to L'Equipe, Wenger has not yet decided whether to run for the presidency.