The United Nations Security Council launched the selection process for the next secretary-general with a closed-door straw poll on July 30, 2026, as the world body prepares for António Guterres' successor to take office on January 1, 2027.
Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan led the first informal vote with 10 "encourage" ballots, followed by Guyana's Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett with nine and Argentina's Rafael Grossi in third. The seven-person field also includes Michelle Bachelet of Chile, Ecuador's Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Senegal's Macky Sall, and Uganda's Olara Otunnu. A separate Bloomberg survey of UN members found Rodrigues-Birkett the most convincing candidate at 49 per cent.
U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed FIFA President Gianni Infantino for the role, though he is not among the official candidates. The selection process may extend through late September or early October.