Aleksander Čeferin finally decided to stay at the helm of European football. This shift comes as UEFA increases pressure on Gianni Infantino and demands a new direction from FIFA.
In August 2026, the Slovenian leader announced that he would not run for a new term at the end of his current fiscal year. But on Thursday in Berlin, he accepted the request of the 55 UEFA national associations and confirmed his candidacy for a final term. The elective congress will be held on 22 April 2027 in Astana, Kazakhstan.
This decision comes in a tense context between the European body and FIFA. Since the abandonment of a project to open up the capital of a new commercial entity to private investors, Gianni Infantino has faced growing opposition. The UEFA now wants to involve institutional reforms in a change of leadership.
Čeferin goes back to his decision
At the head of UEFA since 2016, however, Aleksander Čeferin had suggested that he would pass his hand in 2027. He finally agreed to continue his mission, citing the expectations of national associations.
"There is still important work to be done and I have therefore accepted their requestHe explained, according to Reuters.
His candidacy allowed him to continue his project at the head of European football. But it also removes one of the most frequently mentioned names to challenge Gianni Infantino in the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027.
Europe calls for change in FIFA
Beyond the Čeferin situation, the Berlin meeting highlighted the gap between UEFA and the current FIFA leadership. The European forum reported that 54 of its 55 national associations supported its reform proposals, with only Azerbaijan being an exception.
The federations concerned believe that they have lost confidence in the current FIFA leadership. They demand more transparent governance and a president able to bring together the different regions of global football.
Gianni Infantino, however, remains a strong candidate. In particular, it maintains significant support in Africa and South America. For his part, former Swiss international Ramón Vega announced his intention to challenge him in the March 2027 election.
The return of Čeferin to the UEFA Presidency race therefore does not resolve the conflict. Instead, it confirms that the battle for the future of global football governance is now open.
