Arsene Wenger declines to run for FIFA presidency

Arsene Wenger, the former Arsenal manager and current head of global football development at FIFA, has decided not to run for the FIFA presidency against Gianni Infantino. The election is scheduled to take place on March 18, 2027, in Rabat, Morocco. According to reports from the French newspaper L'Equipe, Wenger seriously considered the proposal from prominent European football officials to challenge the incumbent but ultimately declined due to personal health concerns and his age of 77.

Beyond health factors, sources indicate that Wenger felt the presidency would remove him too far from the pitch compared to his current development role. Tensions have reportedly risen between him and Infantino following the controversy regarding the sale of World Cup rights to private entities this past summer. The deadline for candidates to officially enter the race is November 18, 2026.

With Wenger out of the running, the confirmed challengers to Infantino remain former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega, who declared his candidacy in October, and Kozo Tashima, the honorary president of the Japan Football Association. The upcoming election is considered highly significant due to ongoing internal pressures within the organization, particularly from UEFA.