UEFA and groups opposed to Gianni Infantino are reportedly exploring potential candidates to challenge the FIFA president in the 2027 election. According to Italian sports business publication Calcio e Finanza, preliminary discussions have involved Olympique Lyon owner Michele Kang and Norwegian Football Federation president Lise Klaveness.
Citing French newspaper L’Équipe, the report says European football’s governing body has sounded out potential alternatives ahead of the next FIFA presidential election.
The election is scheduled for March 18, 2027, at the 77th FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco. Candidates have until November 18 to submit their applications. Former footballer Ramon Vega has so far publicly declared his intention to challenge Infantino. Official candidates must secure the backing of at least five FIFA member associations.
Michele Kang: An investor focused on women’s football
South Korean-born American businesswoman Michele Kang has built a significant presence in women’s football through investments in clubs across the United States and Europe.
She acquired a minority stake in Washington Spirit, a National Women’s Soccer League club, in late 2020 before taking full ownership in 2022. In 2023, she acquired a majority stake in Olympique Lyon and invested in England’s London City Lionesses, which secured promotion to the Women’s Super League in 2025.
In 2024, Kang brought the three clubs together under London-based Kynisca Sports International, which she presented as a global multi-club organisation dedicated to women’s football. The structure allows each club to retain its identity while supporting collaboration in areas including sports science and training innovation.
Calcio e Finanza also reports that Kang may have ruled out a FIFA presidential bid, partly because of potential conflicts between the role and her existing ownership responsibilities at Lyon.
Lise Klaveness: A prominent critic of FIFA leadership
Lise Klaveness has served as president of the Norwegian Football Federation since 2022, becoming the first woman to hold the position. She has gained prominence through calls for greater transparency and accountability in football governance.
At the FIFA Congress in Doha in March 2022, Klaveness criticised the process that led to Qatar being awarded the 2022 World Cup, arguing that the decision had been made under unacceptable circumstances.
She has also questioned Infantino’s involvement in the FIFA Peace Prize awarded to Donald Trump, arguing that such recognition falls outside FIFA’s mandate and risks drawing football governance into political disputes.
The 2027 election remains open
The reported discussions come amid continuing debate over FIFA’s governance and the strategic direction of the organisation under Infantino, who first took office in 2016.
Neither the reported contacts nor the names mentioned establish that an official candidacy has been confirmed. The field of challengers will become clearer as the application deadline approaches and potential candidates seek the backing of FIFA member associations.