FIFA Presidential Election Scheduled for Morocco
The FIFA presidential election in 2027, which is expected to grant Gianni Infantino a final four-year term, will take place in Morocco. This will mark the second consecutive electoral meeting of the organization hosted in Africa, where Infantino has forged robust political ties. The election is set for March 18 and will involve the participation of all 211 FIFA member federations, with Infantino currently positioned to win reelection unopposed for the third time since his first victory in 2016 amidst a competitive field of five candidates.
Expressing his sentiments to global football leaders, Infantino stated, “I feel honored and, at the same time, humble,” as he confirmed his candidacy for the upcoming election. The financial stability of FIFA, bolstered by billions in reserves due to the lucrative 2026 World Cup in North America, allows the organization to pay at least $8 million during this presidential term to each member federation eligible to vote. Last year, Infantino received more than $6 million from FIFA, a position that has elevated his global profile, allowing him to meet with influential figures such as U.S. President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is set to host the 2034 World Cup.
Morocco: A Rising Football Power in Africa
Although there were expectations for the 2027 FIFA Congress to be hosted in Europe or Oceania following a series of annual meetings in Canada, Paraguay, Thailand, Rwanda, and Qatar, FIFA has decided on Morocco as the host. The choice of the Rwandan capital, Kigali, for the 2023 election, which Infantino won by acclamation, highlights his partnership with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), led by South African mining magnate Patrice Motsepe. This CAF election was also hosted in Morocco, which has now emerged as the leading football power on the continent.
African voters, a significant block of 54 among the 211 members, have long been considered pivotal in FIFA presidential elections. The CAF and Motsepe have already pledged their support for Infantino in Vancouver this week, even before the official electoral period commenced on Thursday during the FIFA Congress. Morocco has been one of the notable beneficiaries during Infantino's presidency and is set to host the FIFA Congress in 2027 in Rabat, where FIFA established its African regional office last year.
Furthermore, the North African nation will co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal. Organizing the FIFA meeting with officials, business partners, and the media is seen as a showcase for Moroccan football and its influential leader, Fouzi Lekjaa, who also serves as the government’s Budget Minister, appointed by King Mohammed VI. Lekjaa is the highest-ranking vice president under Motsepe in the CAF and is a member of the FIFA Council, which approves the organization's strategies and comprises 37 members, chaired by Infantino himself.
Under Lekjaa's twelve-year leadership, the Moroccan Football Federation has made history with the men's national team reaching the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup, marking the first time an African team has achieved this feat. This success has propelled Morocco's campaign to join the Spain-Portugal project for hosting the World Cup, which was long expected to occur in Europe. Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay will also host opening matches in commemoration of the centennial of the first World Cup.
Additionally, Morocco hosted the men's Africa Cup of Nations this year, which concluded with a chaotic and controversial final. Senegal emerged victorious on the field, but Morocco was awarded the title after a ruling by a CAF appeals panel, with the outcome still pending before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland. Infantino's presidency is expected to extend to 15 years, reaching the statutory term limit in 2031. When he was elected in February 2016 in Zurich, FIFA members also approved a presidential term limit of 12 years as part of governance reforms in response to federal investigations in the United States regarding corruption involving high-ranking football officials worldwide. Infantino’s initial three-year term was meant to complete Sepp Blatter’s term, who was ousted due to the fallout from those investigations, and it was later determined that this term would not count towards the 12-year limit. Infantino secured his first reelection in Paris.
As reported by wfmz.com.
