Arsène Wenger could become Gianni Infantino’s main rival in the upcoming elections for the FIFA presidency. The historic former Arsenal coach, 77 years old, is considering presenting his candidacy to lead the sport’s top governing body, a possibility that has taken on a new dimension after French President Emmanuel Macron has offered him his support to vie for power against the current leader, according to what the British newspaper The Telegraph has reported.
The information, also collected this Saturday, November 14, by El Español, indicates that Macron would have personally contacted Wenger to encourage him to stand and would have shown himself willing to seek support among, among others, heads of state and government. The move comes at a time of confrontation between FIFA and several leaders of European football, who question Infantino’s management after his controversial attempt to open the World Cup’s commercial business to private investors.
However, Wenger has still not announced that he will compete against Infantino and there is also no candidacy officially backed by UEFA. The deadline to submit aspirants ends next November 18, while the elections are scheduled for March 18, 2027, during the FIFA Congress that will take place in Rabat, Morocco. The Frenchman’s decision will determine whether the current president faces an opponent who knows from within how the organization he leads operates.
Macron offers his support to Wenger to contest the FIFA presidency
According to the investigation by The Telegraph, Emmanuel Macron is willing to become involved diplomatically to favor a possible candidacy of Arsène Wenger. The French president would have offered to contact other international leaders to secure backing before the elections, in which the national federations that comprise FIFA participate.
The proposal does not arise in isolation. For weeks now, officials from European football have been holding talks to find an alternative to Gianni Infantino, whose relationship with UEFA deteriorated during the summer as a result of a project related to the commercial exploitation of World Cup rights.
Wenger is one of the names that have appeared in those conversations due to his international recognition and his experience within FIFA itself, where he serves as FIFA’s Director of Global Football Development since November 2019. This circumstance is especially significant: Infantino’s possible rival is currently part of the organization’s structure.
UEFA has not publicly backed any candidate. However, information published by the British newspaper indicates that the European body could support Wenger if he decides to formalize his candidacy, although it also keeps other alternatives open.
Macron’s support, for now, constitutes an offer reported by journalistic sources. There is no record of any public acceptance by Wenger or of an institutional announcement confirming a joint candidacy or an officially promoted campaign by the French government.
The crisis that Infantino faced with UEFA
The source of the distancing lies in the project FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), an initiative driven by Gianni Infantino to create a company intended to manage certain commercial interests of international competitions, including the World Cup.
The plan included opening up a business stake to private investors, a proposal that prompted the rejection of several confederations. UEFA questioned whether an operation of that kind could alter the control of football’s international revenues and governance, and it even warned of possible consequences for its relationship with FIFA.
The pressure ultimately led to the initiative being withdrawn during the summer of 2026. However, its cancellation did not end the institutional confrontation. Different European officials demanded explanations regarding the drafting of the project and began to consider the possibility of backing another candidate in the next presidential elections.
The very Arsène Wenger publicly distanced himself from Infantino on August 4. In a statement, the Frenchman said that he had not participated in the drafting of the project and that he had learned of its existence through the media.
In addition, he described the decision to withdraw the initiative as "absolutely necessary and beyond question" and defended the importance of maintaining an independent FIFA, committed to transparency and integrity.
His statement made a difference regarding the collaborative relationship he had maintained with Infantino since joining the organization. That disagreement has now become one of the precedents for a possible candidacy, although Wenger has not yet confirmed that he wants to turn his criticisms into a dispute for the presidency.
Africa, the main challenge for a candidacy backed by Macron
One of the main difficulties Wenger would face is securing support outside Europe. Each of the national federations integrated into FIFA has one vote, regardless of its size or sporting track record, so UEFA’s backing would not be enough to guarantee a majority.
Infantino retains important institutional support in different confederations of Africa, Asia, South America and Oceania. In particular, the 54 African federations have shown their backing for the current president in the context of his funding and development commitments for football.
The possible involvement of Emmanuel Macron also presents a contradiction. His support could facilitate international contacts for Wenger, but it could also create difficulties in African countries where diplomatic relations with France have deteriorated over the past few years.
A source familiar with the talks warned The Telegraph that a too visible involvement by the French president in West Africa could prove counterproductive for the former Arsenal manager.
The problem is related to tensions between Paris and some of its former colonial territories, especially after the withdrawal of French troops from different African countries and the diplomatic disagreements recorded over the past few years.
Wenger, for his part, maintains sporting ties with the continent since his time as a coach. During his years at Arsenal he coached players such as Nwankwo Kanu, Kolo Touré, Emmanuel Eboué and Lauren, while at FIFA he has taken part in training and development programs aimed at federations from different regions.
These relationships could be part of a potential campaign, although no electoral program presented by the Frenchman yet exists.
Who is Arsène Wenger and why his name appears as an alternative
Arsène Wenger is one of the most recognized figures in European football of the last few decades. The French coach led Arsenal for 22 years, between 1996 and 2018, a period in which he won three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups.
His greatest success came in the 2003-2004 season, when the London club won the English league without losing any matches, a run that earned the team the nickname of The Invincibles.
After leaving Arsenal’s bench, Wenger joined FIFA as responsible for the global development of football. Since then, he has worked on coach training projects, youth academies, and proposals to modify the rules of the game.
Among his best-known initiatives is the so-called “Wenger rule”, a proposal to modify the interpretation of offside and favor attacking football. He has also defended other reforms to the international calendar, such as the possibility of holding the World Cup every two years, an idea that generated controversy among different sports organizations.
His career gives him experience both in club football and in international administration. However, having worked for years alongside Infantino could also require him to explain which aspects of current management he would keep and which he intends to modify.
In addition, his 77 years have opened the debate about the length of a possible term. As the BBC reported, some of the leaders favorable to his candidacy would even consider a transitional presidency, although Wenger has not made any public statement about that possibility.
When are the FIFA elections and what other candidates are there
FIFA’s presidential elections will be held on March 18, 2027 in Rabat, during the organization’s Congress. To register a candidacy, the applicants need the backing of at least five national federations, a condition they will have to meet before the close of the deadline of next November 18.
In addition to Gianni Infantino, who is seeking to continue at the head of the organization, other names have appeared in the electoral race. Among them is Kozo Tashima, honorary president of the Japanese Football Federation, who has announced his intention to compete for the position.
Also, Ramón Vega has been put forward, a Swiss former footballer who played at Tottenham Hotspur, although there are still doubts about whether he has the necessary backing to formalize his candidacy.
UEFA continues to examine different alternatives and has not confirmed that Wenger is its final candidate. According to the information published, if the Frenchman decides not to stand, Tashima could receive support from a relevant part of European football.
The main unknown remains the decision of the former Arsenal coach. Macron has offered his support, according to The Telegraph, but Wenger must decide whether he wants to take on Infantino and secure the endorsements necessary to enter the election race officially.
With barely four days until the deadline closes, the dispute for FIFA enters a decisive phase. A possible candidacy by Wenger would reflect an attempt by part of European football to promote a change in direction within the organization, although the outcome will depend on the support he can secure among the federations of the different continents.