UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has warned Gianni Infantino to step down as FIFA president, claiming he could face a leadership challenge at the next FIFA Congress.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has delivered a major blow to Gianni Infantino’s position as FIFA president, warning that the Swiss could face a challenger if he attempts to seek re-election next year.
Infantino has come under increasing pressure following his controversial plans to attract private investment into FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup. The proposals have sparked opposition across European football, with UEFA threatening to boycott FIFA competitions if the situation escalates.
Despite being one of the most influential figures in world football, Ceferin insists he has no interest in replacing Infantino. The UEFA chief said he would rather remain in his current role and eventually step away from football politics.
“I’m not interested because of two reasons,” Ceferin said. “One reason is that I love UEFA and I love working here, and I think that at a certain point… it’s time to also enjoy life a bit.”
🚨🗣️ UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin on whether he wants to run for FIFA president:
“I’m not interested for two reasons. One is that I love UEFA and I love working here, and I believe that, at a certain point, it’s also time to enjoy life a little.” pic.twitter.com/GAS8b1OUUQ
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) August 24, 2026
Ceferin also believes staying out of the FIFA succession battle strengthens his position. He suggested Infantino’s once-secure grip on world football is no longer what it was and believes the FIFA president has two choices: recognise that he has lost support or go into the next election knowing he could face opposition.
“There are two options,” Ceferin said. “One option is that he realises that he doesn’t have the support… And the second option, that he goes to the elections in March, but in that case I think he will have a candidate against him.”
That would represent a remarkable change from 2016, when Infantino succeeded Sepp Blatter with strong backing from European football. However, Ceferin now argues that the issue extends beyond the officials who vote, claiming Infantino has also lost support among fans, players and coaches.
With the next FIFA Congress scheduled for March in Morocco, attention will now turn to who could challenge Infantino. CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani and AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa have emerged as potential candidates, although no challenger has officially been confirmed.
Infantino, meanwhile, appears determined to continue as normal. During a visit to the Dominican Republic, he spoke about the importance of dialogue and thanked those who had continued to support him. But with UEFA openly questioning his leadership and the possibility of a rival candidate growing, FIFA’s next presidential election could become one of the most significant battles in football politics in years.
