Wenger Weighs Challenge to Infantino for FIFA Presidency

Arsène Wenger is considering a run against Gianni Infantino in FIFA's presidential election, which is scheduled for March. If he goes ahead, it would be a rare direct challenge to the man who has led world football's governing body since 2016.

Wenger managed Arsenal for 22 years before leaving the club in 2018, and he has remained close to the game's administration since then. He has worked within FIFA in a football development role since 2019, which gives him a working knowledge of the organisation's structure, though a role inside the system is not the same as a mandate to lead it.

Infantino succeeded Sepp Blatter after the scandal-hit final years of Blatter's presidency and has since been re-elected twice. His tenure has been defined by a push to expand the men's World Cup, including the 48-team format used for the 2026 tournament, and by a close working relationship with a number of federations that have backed him at the ballot box.

Nothing has been confirmed. Candidates must be formally nominated under FIFA's electoral rules, and it is not yet clear whether Wenger has the support he would need to put his name forward. Whether he stands or not, the prospect of a contested vote would put FIFA's leadership, and its approach to reform, under fresh scrutiny in the months ahead.