Is Arsene Wenger running for FIFA president?

He has not declared a candidacy. Senior figures in European football are reported to want him to stand against Gianni Infantino, but no campaign has been announced.

Who wants Arsene Wenger to take on Gianni Infantino?

The suggestion is attributed to senior figures in European football. None of them has been named publicly, and no federation has endorsed the idea on the record.

Has Arsene Wenger responded to the FIFA presidency reports?

No. Wenger has not commented, and there has been no public response from FIFA or from any national association about the suggestion.

Who is Gianni Infantino?

He is the serving FIFA president and the figure Wenger is reported to be wanted to stand against. FIFA has not commented on the suggestion.

What would have to happen for Wenger to become a FIFA presidential candidate?

A candidacy would need to be declared and formally backed, but no timetable, nomination route or supporting group has been set out.

Football

Arsene Wenger urged to challenge Gianni Infantino for FIFA presidency

No candidacy has been declared and Wenger has not commented on the suggestion.

By Sportsback1h ago

Arsenal FC, Emirates stadium ( Ank kumar, Infosys)

Ank Kumar · CC BY-SA 4.0

Arsene Wenger is being put forward as a possible challenger to Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency, with senior figures in European football reported to want the former Arsenal manager to stand against the incumbent. The suggestion emerged this week and has not been confirmed by Wenger, by FIFA or by any national association.

The idea is attributed to people inside the European game rather than to Wenger himself, and it is presented as a surprise challenge rather than a declared campaign. No federation, official or grouping has publicly attached its name to the proposal. Nothing indicates that a candidacy has been lodged or that a decision is imminent.

What has been suggested

Arsenal Football Club , Emirates stadium

Beyond the proposition that Wenger should run, very little has been set out. There is no campaign team, no platform and no list of supporters in the public domain, and no timetable for a decision. None of the people said to be behind the idea has spoken on the record about it.

Why the FIFA presidency matters

FIFA governs world football, and its presidency is the most senior elected office in the sport. A challenge to a sitting president is therefore a story about the whole game rather than about one federation, which is why an unformed proposal can draw attention before it produces a candidate. Gianni Infantino is the incumbent the suggestion would have Wenger face.

Wenger's position

Wenger, a former Arsenal manager, has said nothing about the suggestion, and no statement has come from anyone acting for him. FIFA has not commented either. Whether he has any appetite for the role, or any interest in taking on the sitting president, is unknown.

What happens next

A candidacy would need to be declared and then formally backed before it became real. Nothing that has emerged sets out a timetable, a route to nomination or a group of federations prepared to lend support. The clearest next step would be a public signal from Wenger himself, and the longer that does not come, the more the suggestion looks like an idea in search of a candidate.

What is not yet known

Whether Arsene Wenger wants to stand.
Which European federations or officials back the idea.
Whether any formal nomination process has begun.
What a Wenger candidacy would campaign on.
Whether Gianni Infantino will face any confirmed opponent.

Frequently asked questions

Is Arsene Wenger running for FIFA president?: He has not declared a candidacy. Senior figures in European football are reported to want him to stand against Gianni Infantino, but no campaign has been announced.
Who wants Arsene Wenger to take on Gianni Infantino?: The suggestion is attributed to senior figures in European football. None of them has been named publicly, and no federation has endorsed the idea on the record.
Has Arsene Wenger responded to the FIFA presidency reports?: No. Wenger has not commented, and there has been no public response from FIFA or from any national association about the suggestion.
Who is Gianni Infantino?: He is the serving FIFA president and the figure Wenger is reported to be wanted to stand against. FIFA has not commented on the suggestion.
What would have to happen for Wenger to become a FIFA presidential candidate?: A candidacy would need to be declared and formally backed, but no timetable, nomination route or supporting group has been set out.