UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has ruled out standing for the FIFA presidency in 2027, despite speculation that he could challenge incumbent Gianni Infantino in next year’s election.
Speaking on the British podcast The Rest is Politics, Ceferin dismissed reports that he was considering a bid for the FIFA presidency.
“I’m not interested. I like UEFA and the work I do there,” Ceferin said.
The UEFA president has emerged as one of the most prominent opponents of Infantino as tensions between European football’s governing body and FIFA have increased in recent years.
Ceferin suggested that his decision not to seek the FIFA presidency actually strengthens his credibility as an opponent of Infantino.
“If I’m not interested in that position,” Ceferin said, his opposition to the FIFA president cannot be explained by personal ambitions to replace him.
Infantino is expected to seek another term as FIFA president at the organisation’s next election in March 2027. With Ceferin now ruling himself out, the UEFA president is unlikely to emerge as a direct challenger to Infantino.
Ceferin has led UEFA since 2016 and has increasingly positioned European football’s governing body as a counterweight to FIFA on issues including the international football calendar, competition expansion and the commercial interests of European clubs and leagues.
His decision removes one of the most prominent names that had been linked with a potential challenge to Infantino, leaving the FIFA president on course to seek another term without a direct electoral contest from UEFA’s current leadership.