A fourth term for Ceferin

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin told the presidents and general secretaries of the 55 national associations in Berlin on Thursday that he will stand for a final term, reversing his earlier decision to step down when his current term ends. He had said in August that he would not stand against Gianni Infantino in FIFA's presidential election, and in 2024 he had said he would not be a candidate at the next UEFA election. UEFA's statutes were changed in 2024 to allow him to stand again, a move the Football Association opposed, according to the Irish Examiner. Ceferin will contest the UEFA Ordinary Congress in Astana, Kazakhstan, on April 22, and would serve through to 2031.

In his own words, Ceferin told the meeting:

“I want to thank the national associations for their trust. We have faced extraordinary challenges over the past years, and we have faced them as one team. There is still important work ahead, and I have therefore accepted their request (to stand again).”

His decision removes one of the most prominent names from the list of possible challengers to Infantino, while the associations continue their push for change at FIFA.

Pressure on FIFA

According to UEFA, all 55 national associations except Azerbaijan supported FIFA reform proposals. The associations said they have lost confidence in the current FIFA leadership and that institutional reform alone will not be enough. UEFA also raised concern about executive interference, calling for FIFA's oversight bodies to be protected from presidential or executive interference. The push follows Infantino's failed July plan to bring private investors into a new FIFA commercial entity holding rights linked to competitions including the World Cup, which Przegląd Sportowy described as valued at $20 billion, with 20% for private investors. FIFA's cash reserves stand at close to $6 billion after the men's World Cup held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and UEFA repeated its promise of a one-off $10 million dividend for each member. Infantino has proposed an independent review of FIFA's decision-making.

In its statement after the Berlin meeting, UEFA said:

“FIFA also needs new leadership: a respected and unifying figure, deeply rooted in football, with the vision and experience to lead, the ability to command confidence across regions and an unequivocal commitment to development, reform, integrity and independence.”

The statement describes a candidate who represents FIFA globally and provides leadership without exercising management functions. Exactly who that candidate could be was not discussed on Thursday. AP reported that the candidate will not be Ceferin and potentially will not be European, given the need for votes among 211 FIFA member federations.

The race for a challenger

Former Switzerland defender Ramon Vega said on Wednesday that he intends to stand in next year's FIFA election against compatriot Infantino, becoming the first person to publicly declare his intention before the November 18 deadline. Il Giornale describes Vega as 55 years old and a former player for Cagliari and Tottenham. UEFA vice-president McAllister said she is confident that a suitable person will come forward, and the associations are set to meet again before November 17 to identify a candidate. The FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March 18 in Rabat, Morocco.

What comes next

Ceferin and global soccer leaders will meet Infantino next week in Zurich, the first meeting of the 37-member FIFA Council since the World Cup private investor plan was revealed. Candidacies for the FIFA election close on November 18.

If Ceferin is re-elected in Astana, he would serve through to 2031.