By Gabriel Ameh
Former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger is reportedly considering a bid to challenge FIFA President Gianni Infantino in the organisation’s 2027 presidential election.
According to Sky Sports, Wenger, who currently serves as FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, is expected to announce his intentions in the coming days.
A potential presidential bid would put Wenger in direct competition with Infantino, who appointed him to the global football development role in November 2019.
The development could create an unusual contest within FIFA, as Wenger would be challenging the same leadership under which he currently serves.
Infantino has already indicated his intention to seek another term as FIFA president, with the election scheduled for March 18, 2027, during the 77th FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco.
The reported possibility of Wenger entering the race comes amid discussions and opposition among some football stakeholders over Infantino’s reported plans to sell portions of FIFA’s tournament rights to generate additional revenue for funding its competitions.
The proposed arrangement could become a major talking point in the run-up to the election, particularly among stakeholders concerned about the organisation’s commercial direction and management of football revenues.
Although Wenger has yet to formally declare his candidacy, his potential entry could introduce a new dimension to the contest and provide an alternative leadership option for FIFA’s voting stakeholders.
For now, attention is on whether the former Arsenal manager will officially enter the race and take on Infantino in the battle for the leadership of world football.
Source: Sky Sports.
Editorial note: Wenger’s candidacy remains unconfirmed. The report is therefore presented as a possible challenge rather than an officially declared presidential bid.
