VANCOUVER, British Columbia — FIFA President Gianni Infantino has formally launched his campaign for re-election in 2027, with the voting scheduled to take place in Morocco, marking the second consecutive FIFA presidential election held in Africa where Infantino has cultivated strong political relationships.
Speaking to international soccer officials on Thursday, Infantino confirmed his candidacy for what would be his third term, with the election meeting of FIFA’s 211 member nations scheduled for March 18 in Morocco, a co-host nation for the 2030 World Cup.
“I am honored and humbled at the same time,” Infantino stated to the assembled global soccer leadership while announcing his expected bid for another term.
FIFA’s robust financial position, featuring billions in reserves strengthened by projected high revenues from the 2026 World Cup in North America, enables the organization to distribute a minimum of $8 million to each member federation during Infantino’s current presidential term.
Last year, FIFA compensated Infantino more than $6 million for his role, which has elevated his international standing through regular meetings with high-profile leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose nation will host the 2034 World Cup.
The location choice for the 2027 FIFA Congress breaks from the expected rotation, as Europe or Oceania appeared likely to host following recent annual gatherings in Canada, Paraguay, Thailand, Rwanda and Qatar.
FIFA selected Rwanda’s capital Kigali for its 2023 election where Infantino won unanimous support. He has formed a strategic partnership with the Confederation of African Football led by South African mining mogul Patrice Motsepe since 2021. That CAF election also took place in Morocco, which has emerged as Africa’s dominant soccer nation.
The 54 African voting members among FIFA’s 211 total have historically played a crucial role in determining FIFA presidential outcomes.
Both CAF and Motsepe announced their backing for Infantino during this week’s Vancouver meetings, even before Thursday’s formal opening of the election period at the FIFA Congress.
Morocco has benefited significantly during Infantino’s tenure and will host the 2027 FIFA Congress in Rabat, where the soccer organization established its African regional headquarters last year.
The North African country will jointly host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, with aspirations to hold the championship match at a massive 115,000-seat stadium under construction in Casablanca. Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium represents another potential venue for the final.
Next year’s FIFA gathering of officials, corporate partners and journalists will serve as a promotional platform for Moroccan soccer and its prominent leader Fouzi Lekjaa, who simultaneously serves as a government budget minister under King Mohammed VI’s appointment.
Lekjaa holds the position of Motsepe’s top vice president at CAF and serves on FIFA’s 37-member Council, chaired by Infantino, which sets strategic direction for the global soccer organization.
Under Lekjaa’s dozen years leading Morocco’s soccer federation, the national men’s team achieved World Cup history in 2022 by becoming the first African squad to advance to the semifinals.
That breakthrough performance strengthened Morocco’s bid to join the Spain-Portugal hosting partnership for the World Cup, which had been anticipated to remain in Europe. Morocco had previously failed in multiple hosting attempts since the 1990s, including the 2026 tournament where they were the sole challenger to the successful North American bid from the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Morocco has also secured a five-year agreement with FIFA to host the annual Under-17 Women’s World Cup.
This year, Morocco hosted the men’s African Cup of Nations, which concluded with a disputed and chaotic final. While Senegal claimed victory on the field, Morocco received the title through a CAF appeals committee decision, with the final outcome awaiting Senegal’s pending appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.
Infantino’s presidency is projected to span 15 years when he reaches his statutory term limits in 2031.
Following Infantino’s initial election victory in Zurich during February 2016, FIFA members simultaneously approved a 12-year presidential term restriction as part of comprehensive governance reforms mandated by U.S. federal corruption investigations that implicated top soccer officials globally.
Infantino’s original three-year term extending through 2019 — which completed Sepp Blatter’s interrupted presidency following his removal amid the investigation fallout — was ultimately ruled not to count against the 12-year limitation. His first re-election victory occurred in Paris.
