The United Nations is preparing for a leadership change as António Guterres, the current secretary-general, will finish his second five-year term on December 31, 2026. His successor will take office on January 1, 2027. The selection process is intricate, involving the Security Council—a group of fifteen countries, including five permanent members with veto power—who conduct secret exploratory votes. A candidate must secure at least nine votes and avoid any vetoes to be selected. The final decision is made by the General Assembly, which includes all 193 UN member states, though it has never rejected a candidate recommended by the Security Council. The UN is encountering challenges to its authority, as some governments prefer to negotiate through groups like the G7, Brics, or informal alliances. Critics argue that the organization's structure reflects power dynamics from 1945, and its financial stability has suffered due to reduced American support. Some believe Guterres' successor will have to deal with the organization's decline, while others hope for a revival with increased investment from both major and smaller countries. Nine candidates have officially entered the race, though one has withdrawn, leaving eight contenders, including five women: Michelle Bachelet from Chile, María Fernanda Espinosa and Ivonne A-Baki from Ecuador, Rafael Grossi from Argentina, Rebeca Grynspan from Costa Rica, Olara Otunnu from Uganda, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett from Guyana, and Macky Sall from Senegal. The Christian Science Monitor highlighted that the UN has only had male leaders in its 80-year history, but there is increasing pressure to choose a woman for the first time. Rebeca Grynspan, a 70-year-old economist and former vice-president of Costa Rica, was initially the favorite after the first exploratory vote, receiving ten favorable votes and one unfavorable. However, in the second round on August 21, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, 52, the Guyanese ambassador to the UN, gained eight supporters compared to Grynspan's seven. The Guardian noted that there is an informal expectation that Guterres' successor should come from Latin America. However, the late emergence of a strong candidate and the position of the United States, which traditionally holds the decisive vote, could influence the race. The New York Post reported in July that Donald Trump was considering Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, though the White House has not confirmed this. Infantino, a Swiss official, is seen more as a "test balloon" than a serious candidate.