As Gianni Infantino faces a growing rebellion within world football, Arsène Wenger could become a serious option to challenge him for the FIFA presidency.

FIFA is experiencing one of the most significant political crises of the Gianni Infantino era. Re-elected unopposed in 2023, the president of the world governing body still seemed to have considerable leeway just months before the election scheduled for March 18, 2027, in Rabat, Morocco. However, his plan to commercialize some of the World Cup's assets and his close ties to Donald Trump have seriously weakened his position. Dubbed FIFA Forward Enterprise, this structure was intended to allow private investors close to the American president to acquire a stake in the organization's commercial activities, including broadcasting rights, sponsorships, and competition revenues. The operation, which aimed to raise approximately $4.2 billion by selling nearly 20% of the capital of this new entity, has sparked widespread outrage and criticism regarding the lack of transparency in the process and the absence of prior consultation with key stakeholders. Faced with this opposition, Infantino finally had to abandon the project at the beginning of August, even though he intended to present this operation as an additional lever to finance the development of world football.

This retreat, however, was not enough to quell the outcry. UEFA, led by Aleksander Ceferin, hardened its stance, even maintaining the threat of a boycott of FIFA competitions. The European confederation, supported in its opposition to the project by Concacaf, the AFC, and the OFC, also demanded guarantees regarding the organization's governance and how strategic decisions are made. Several European federations deemed Infantino's reform proposals insufficient, with many suspecting him of primarily seeking to consolidate his position before the election. The protests even extended beyond football, as Glenn Micallef, the European Commissioner for Sport, publicly criticized the increasing commercialization of the sport. While Gianni Infantino retains significant support, particularly in Africa where the continent's 54 federations have pledged their backing, several leaders are seeking to unite a credible opposition. Concacaf president Victor Montagliani, once considered a potential candidate, has finally announced that he will seek another term at the head of his confederation. At this stage, the challenge remains finding a sufficiently respected and unifying figure to represent a genuine alternative to the Italian-Swiss leader.

Wenger was pressured internally by UEFA

And so, Arsène Wenger's name began to circulate insistently. According to The Times, Infantino's opponents are trying to convince the former Arsenal manager to enter the race for the FIFA presidency. With the November 18th deadline for applications approaching, some hope the Frenchman will agree to become the face of this challenge. At 76, the Alsatian remains one of the most respected figures in world football, thanks to his immense career on the sidelines and his experience within international governing bodies. However, the discussions reported by the British daily do not mean that "Wenger has agreed to run," nor even that he has officially announced "his intention to do so." For the time being, it is a possibility being explored "by Infantino's opponents," who are struggling to find a candidate capable of gathering enough support "to threaten the incumbent president."

The choice of Wenger would obviously not be insignificant given his long-standing relationship with Infantino. In November 2019, a few months after leaving Arsenal following 22 years at the helm of the London club, the French manager was appointed FIFA's Director of Global Football Development. This decision was driven by the FIFA president, who wanted to leverage his expertise to strengthen the sporting dimension of the organization. Since then, the two men have worked within the same institution, with Wenger holding a strategic position that allows him to influence technical direction and training policies. This professional relationship has also been accompanied by a convergence of views on several projects championed by Infantino. All of these factors make the possibility of the Frenchman's candidacy particularly surprising, even if recent turmoil has shown that this close relationship does not imply unconditional support.

A former supporter of Infantino

While Wenger long seemed to align himself with the momentum initiated by Infantino, his recent pronouncements have revealed the limitations of this agreement. In early August, following the abandonment of the FIFA Forward Enterprise project, the former Arsenal manager publicly distanced himself from this controversial initiative. He asserted that he had not participated in its development and had only learned of its existence through the media. Most importantly, he deemed its withdrawal "absolutely necessary," reiterating his commitment to an independent FIFA, serving football with transparency and integrity. This was a strong statement coming from a man recruited by Infantino himself and who, for several years, supported some of his development ambitions.

Wenger remains particularly involved in youth development programs, the establishment of academies in some sixty countries, the technical analysis of international competitions, and discussions on the Laws of the Game within the IFAB. Last May, he was still advocating before the FIFA Congress for increased investment in women's football and the identification of young talent. In July, the Strasbourg native also highlighted the challenges of training and accessibility in the United States. It remains to be seen whether Wenger truly wants to transition from the role of technical director to that of presidential candidate, with all the political implications that entails. For the time being, his name is primarily seen as a possibility that could shake up the election in which Infantino maintains a significant lead.