UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has confirmed he will not run for the FIFA presidency in the March 2027 election, ending speculation that he might challenge incumbent Gianni Infantino.
Speaking on the British podcast The Rest is Politics, Čeferin said he is "not interested" in the role and that his credibility as a critic of Infantino is stronger precisely because he does not seek the post. The Slovenian, who has led European football's governing body since 2016, added that he wishes to spend more time with his family. His UEFA mandate concludes in 2027.
Infantino, elected unopposed in both 2019 and 2023, is currently the only declared candidate for the vote in Rabat. Čeferin suggested an opposition candidate would emerge, with Concacaf President Victor Montagliani cited in media reports as a possible challenger. Tensions between the two bodies remain high after UEFA threatened to boycott FIFA competitions, including World Cups, over a since-withdrawn plan to open the tournament to private investors.