Wenger to decide this week on challenging Infantino

Arsene Wenger is seriously considering a run against Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency. The former Arsenal manager, 77, is expected to decide this week, ahead of the November 18 deadline for candidates in the March 2027 election, The Athletic reported. Wenger has been FIFA's chief of global football development since 2019. If he runs, he would be the best-known challenger to an incumbent whose standing was shaken by the failed plan to sell commercial stakes in the World Cup.nytimes.com

European push

Senior figures in European football have spent weeks hoping Wenger would run, and he is now giving it serious thought, BBC Sport reported. UEFA has led the opposition to Infantino and is among the groups lobbying Wenger. The Athletic said UEFA is also talking to other figures and is expected to nominate a candidate before the deadline, according to its report.bbc.co.uk+1

His age has raised questions about whether he could lead for long. Some supporters told the BBC they would be happy for him to win and then step down before a full four-year term ends, BBC Sport reported. People close to Wenger say he has not decided yet, and they still see Infantino as the favourite for a fourth and final term.bbc.co.uk

The timing is also awkward. Wenger's FIFA contract runs out at the end of this year. FIFA wants to extend it, but staying in the job while campaigning on a rival agenda could cause problems, Sports Business Journal noted, citing The Athletic.sportsbusinessjournal.com

Split from Infantino

Infantino scrapped the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan after it drew a backlash. Wenger had usually been loyal to Infantino, but he distanced himself from the plan. "I was not involved in this strategic plan and first became aware of the project through media reports," he said, adding that withdrawing it was "absolutely necessary," the BBC reported. He also missed an August 5 FIFA meeting in Rabat where the leadership rallied behind Infantino, The Athletic noted.bbc.com+1

A crowded but uphill race

Two people have already said they want to run. Former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega declared in October, and the Japan Football Association's Kozo Tashima announced his bid last week, The Athletic reported. Each candidate needs nominations from five national associations. The winner needs 106 votes from FIFA's 211 members at the congress in Rabat, Morocco, in March.nytimes.com

Infantino still has strong support in Africa, South America, the Caribbean and the Middle East, and the Asian Football Confederation backs him, according to The Athletic. Even supporters admit Wenger would be an odd choice. "The chances are that, even if Wenger stands, Infantino will still win," an Athletic column argued. It still called Wenger "by far the most credible and best-known alternative candidate."nytimes.com+1