Nobody has yet come out as an official contender for Gianni Infantino’s job as FIFA president.
But there are a few obvious potential candidates for the job with Infantino under mounting pressure ahead of March’s FIFA elections… if he even makes it that far.
Infantino has been formally opposed by several of its member FAs, with a clutch of nations – including England and Wales – already on record saying they will oppose his re-election. So who are the early potential runners and riders?
Runners and riders
But Infantino has also received expressions of support, suggesting that the race for the job of running the global game could wind up being closer than it initially appeared.
A two-horse race would require at least 50% of the votes, while if there were three candidates or more, they would need either a two-thirds majority or else the lowest-voted candidate would be eliminated and the votes re-cast.
With each member holding one vote regardless of profile, a successful candidate would need to show they can represent the interests of poorer and smaller nations who are much more reliant on FIFA funding.
Infantino’s own success has been built around doing exactly that, but there is a general sense that another European candidate to replace the Swiss would face a bit of an uphill battle.
But UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has nonetheless been installed as the 6/5 favourite by bookmakers.
He is followed by PSG’s Qatari owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who has previously distanced himself from the idea of a FIFA run. Infantino’s opponent from the last election, Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, is at 4/1 alongside CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani.
Or if you fancy throwing your money into a black hole, you could always go for disgraced former FIFA president Sepp Blatter at 50/1.
For some reason, odds have not been provided on Infantino himself. Candidates have until November 18 to put themselves forward for the March election.
Next FIFA president odds
As provided by CSB:
- Aleksander Ceferin – 6/5
- Nasser Al-Khelaifi – 2/1
- Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Victor Montagliani – 4/1
- Dariusz Mioduski – 6/1
- Arsene Wenger, Mattias Grafstrom – 8/1
- Patrice Motsepe – 12/1
- Lise Klaveness – 18/1
- Gabriele Gravina, Hans-Joachim Watzke, Mark Bullingham – 25/1
- Carlos Puyol, Fabio Cannavaro, Gareth Southgate, Pep Guardiola – 33/1
- Sepp Blatter – 50/1
