Aleksander Ceferin has ruled himself out of the FIFA presidential election in March 2027 but said Gianni Infantino could face a challenger if he remains in the race.

The UEFA president’s comments raise the prospect of a contested election for Infantino as FIFA faces criticism over its governance and the collapse of a plan to bring private investment into its commercial operations.

Ceferin said he saw “two options” for the FIFA president ahead of the Congress in Morocco.

“One option is that he realises that he doesn’t have the support,” Ceferin said.

“The second option is that he goes to the elections in March, but in that case, I think he will have a candidate against him.”

No challenger has been named. Ceferin said he did not know who might stand against Infantino if the FIFA president seeks another term. Infantino has not announced that he will resign or formally declared his candidacy for 2027.

He is widely expected to seek re-election for the 2027-31 cycle.

Why Aleksander Ceferin Won’t Run for FIFA President

Ceferin said he was not interested in replacing Infantino, pointing to his work at UEFA and saying he could be more effective by staying outside the contest.

“I’m not interested because of two reasons. One reason is that I love UEFA and I love working here. And I think that at a certain point… it’s time to also enjoy life a bit.”

He added: “My credibility is much, much, much higher if I’m not interested in the position.”

Ceferin’s decision removes one of the most prominent names who could potentially have entered the race. It does not rule out a contested vote, which he said could emerge if Infantino remains in the race.

Read More: Who Could Replace Gianni Infantino As FIFA President?

Why Ceferin Thinks Gianni Infantino Could Face a Challenger

No candidate has declared an intention to run against Infantino, and Ceferin said he did not know who could enter the race.

His comments followed resistance from several football bodies to Infantino’s plan to seek private investment in FIFA’s commercial rights.

FIFA has since abandoned the proposal after resistance from several football bodies.

Ceferin has criticised the plan, which included a possible sale of a stake in World Cup-related commercial rights.

He described the proposal as “worse than the Super League”, according to the BBC. The UEFA president also said he had not spoken to Infantino during the current dispute.

“Every day, there are different discussions. I didn’t speak with him,” Ceferin said.

What Happens Next Before FIFA’s 2027 Presidential Election

FIFA Congress is scheduled to elect its next president in Morocco in March 2027. Infantino has not formally announced that he will run again. If he does, he would seek another four-year term as FIFA president.

FIFA has said it will not support, facilitate, or tolerate an election process that conflicts with its statutes, democratic procedures, or governance framework.

Ceferin will not be on the ballot, but his comments suggest Infantino's expected re-election may not be uncontested. Candidates have until 18 November 2026 to submit nominations for the election, according to Reuters.

That gives member associations and potential candidates time to decide whether to challenge Infantino.