Gambiaj.com – (PARIS, France) – Arsène Wenger has emerged as a potential challenger to Gianni Infantino in next year’s FIFA presidential election, with opponents of the incumbent seeking to persuade the former Arsenal manager to enter the race.
According to The Times, discussions are under way among Infantino’s critics about whether Wenger could become a unifying candidate capable of mounting a serious challenge to the FIFA president at the election scheduled for March 18, 2027, in Rabat, Morocco.
The approach comes as Infantino faces growing criticism over FIFA’s governance and a controversial plan to commercialize part of the organization’s World Cup-related assets.
The proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise would have allowed external investors to acquire stakes in a new commercial structure handling areas including broadcasting rights, sponsorship, and competition revenues.
The proposal triggered opposition from several football authorities and was eventually abandoned in August following pressure from within the football community. FIFA has since said that an independent review of the shelved plan will be presented to its Council.
UEFA and other confederations have subsequently pressed for greater transparency and changes to FIFA’s decision-making structures. Several European associations have also withdrawn or reconsidered their support for Infantino’s re-election bid.
Infantino, however, continues to seek a fourth term and retains significant backing, particularly in Africa. The Confederation of African Football has publicly declared unanimous support for his re-election, while FIFA has confirmed that he remains committed to contesting the March 2027 election.
Wenger’s name gains traction
The emergence of Wenger reflects the difficulty Infantino’s opponents have faced in finding a candidate with sufficient international standing and support to challenge him.
Wenger, 76, is one of the most recognizable figures in world football. After 22 years as Arsenal manager, he joined FIFA in 2019 as chief of global football development, a position in which he has worked on youth development, coaching, technical analysis, and the expansion of football academies around the world.
But there is no indication that Wenger has agreed to run.
The Times reported that he is being encouraged by opponents of Infantino, rather than having formally declared an intention to seek the presidency. Candidates must secure the support of at least five FIFA member associations, with nominations closing on November 18.
The possibility is particularly notable because Wenger has spent the past seven years working within the FIFA structure under Infantino.
The Frenchman was brought into the organisation shortly after leaving Arsenal, with Infantino appointing him to a senior role focused on the development of the global game. Wenger has subsequently remained involved in FIFA programs covering youth development, technical analysis, and the expansion of football opportunities.
A former Infantino ally
Wenger’s potential candidacy would therefore represent an unexpected development in his relationship with the FIFA president.
The Frenchman has generally worked alongside Infantino and supported several of FIFA’s football-development initiatives. But he publicly distanced himself from the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise plan in August.
Wenger said at the time that he had not been involved in developing the proposal and had learned about it through the media. He also argued that its withdrawal was necessary and stressed the importance of a FIFA that remained independent and operated with transparency and integrity.
That intervention has since taken on greater significance as Infantino’s opponents search for an alternative candidate.
The race has already seen the withdrawal of one potential challenger. Victor Montagliani, the president of Concacaf, had been discussed as a possible candidate but has decided to seek another term leading the North and Central American confederation instead.
Former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega has also declared his intention to run, making him an established challenger to Infantino.
For now, Wenger remains only a possibility. Whether he is prepared to move from FIFA’s technical and development structures into the organisation’s highly political presidential contest will depend on whether he accepts the approaches reportedly being made to him.
With the November 18 nomination deadline approaching, his decision could add another dimension to an increasingly contested election.
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