Former Arsenal boss Wenger touted as challenger to Infantino as Fifa boss

British newspapers The Times, reported that Wenger, 76, who is Fifa's chief of global football development, had been approached by senior figures in football about standing against Infantino, who has faced criticism since the 2026 World Cup.

In August, Wenger said he had not been involved in a Fifa plan, since withdrawn, to sell stakes in future World Cup profits to private investors.

“I was not involved in this strategic plan and first became aware of the project through media reports,” he said.

“The decision to withdraw the project was absolutely necessary and beyond question, because I firmly believe in an independent Fifa that serves our game with commitment, transparency, and integrity.” Fifa's head of global development Arsene Wenger (centre) attended the England v Argentina semi-final at the 2026 World Cup with Fifa boss Gianni Infantino (right) and the president of the Argentina Football Association Claudio Tapia (left).

Even before the row over the private investment plan, Infantino was criticised for letting US President Donald Trump interfere in the 2026 World Cup, hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada.

Trump said he had contacted Fifa to urge it to lift a one-match ban on US striker Folarin Balogun, who was sent off in the win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on 1 July. The ban was lifted the day before the Americans played Belgium in the last 16.

The second link was four words, so I cut it to “one-match ban” to fit your three-word limit. I also changed “last-16” to “last 16”, because it's used as a noun here.

Lost support across Europe

Several leading football associations, including those of France, Switzerland and Belgium, have withdrawn their support for Infantino's bid for a fourth and final term following incidents during and after the World Cup.

None has yet put forward a candidate against the 56-year-old Swiss. So far, only former Switzerland international Ramon Vega, 55, has said he will stand.

Unlike Vega, Wenger has worked inside Fifa. Infantino appointed him head of global football development in 2019, and he has since led the organisation's work to identify and develop talented players around the world.

'Infantino could survive'

On Tuesday, sports executives said Infantino could well survive the criticism in the run-up to the 18 November deadline for candidacies.

“Everyone is surprised that no serious candidate has come forward to challenge Infantino,” Michael Payne, the former marketing chief of the International Olympic Committee, told AFP.

Over the past month, Aleksander Ceferin, one of Infantino's fiercest critics, has chosen to run for re-election as head of European football's governing body, Uefa.

Victor Montagliani, his counterpart at CONCACAF, which governs football in North and Central America and the Caribbean, has not ruled out seeking another term.

Terrence Burns, a marketing strategist who has worked on World Cup hosting bids, said Infantino should not be underestimated.

“He holds all the cards and always has,” Burns added. “Any prospective challenger at this point feels either performative or strategic to cut deals.”

Support from Africa and South America

Infantino, who succeeded Sepp Blatter as Fifa president in 2016, still has the backing of Saudi Arabia, host of the 2034 World Cup, as well as the South American and African confederations.

At a three-day strategy meeting in Cape Verde last week, Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), praised Infantino's support for African football. He pledged to back him in the election in Rabat, Morocco, in March 2027.

But even as powerful rivals step aside, Infantino faces legal action in the US from people seeking access to documents on the private investment plan. Complaints have also been lodged with Fifa committees.

Belgian federation seeks answers 

The Belgian federation, the RBFA, says it wants to raise Balogun's red card at Thursday's Fifa Council meeting in Zurich.

“Two months after the events, we note that our questions remain unanswered,” said RBFA president Pascale Van Damme.

“Given the importance of transparency and clarity for all parties involved, we request the necessary explanations and, at the same time, wish to explore where improvements to the current processes are possible, so that similar cases can be handled in a clear, consistent and efficient manner in the future.”

Burns said the private investment plan was “a fly in the ointment”.

“If it was just a case of misguided process and communications strategy, why hide its specifics? That lack of transparency is a rock in Infantino's shoe that will not fade away.”

(With newswires)