Grafström Emerges as Possible Infantino Rival

Published: 22 August 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Senior figures in African football have approached Fifa general secretary Mattias Grafström to assess whether the Swedish administrator could be willing to challenge Gianni Infantino for the presidency of world football’s governing body next year, according to reports.

The approaches have emerged at a potentially significant moment for Fifa, with growing signs of dissatisfaction among some African football federations despite the Confederation of African Football publicly maintaining its support for Infantino. As many as 15 African federations are understood to be considering breaking ranks with the incumbent when he seeks re-election.

Grafström, 45, has not indicated that he intends to run for the presidency and is understood to have remained non-committal when approached. However, his initial resistance to a controversial Fifa commercial initiative appears to have encouraged opponents of Infantino to consider whether he could become a credible alternative.

Two presidents of African football federations reportedly spoke separately with Grafström by telephone last week to gauge his position. The conversations are said to have caught him by surprise. Although he did not commit himself to challenging Infantino, his previous working relationships with African football officials have made him a figure of interest among those seeking a possible change in Fifa leadership.

One African football official suggested that Grafström could potentially bring different continental interests together if he decided to enter the contest. The belief among some opponents of Infantino is that a candidate capable of building a coalition across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Concacaf region could present a serious challenge to the incumbent.

Grafström has been Fifa’s permanent general secretary since May 2024, having previously held the position on an interim basis. As the organisation’s second-highest executive official, he has worked closely with Infantino and with football authorities in Africa during the past two years. His position inside Fifa gives him a detailed understanding of the organisation, its finances and its relationships with the continental confederations.

His relationship with Infantino came under scrutiny after the collapse of the Fifa Forward Enterprise proposal. The initiative had included plans to sell a 20% share of the commercial rights connected to the World Cup, with the proceeds intended to strengthen financial support for football associations around the world.

Grafström initially appeared to distance himself from the initiative. In a memo sent to Fifa staff three days after the proposal was abandoned, he wrote that individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes would come and go. The wording was interpreted by some as an indication that the general secretary did not fully support the direction being taken by the organisation’s leadership.

The situation changed quickly. Twenty-four hours later, Grafström signed a letter expressing full support for Infantino. He subsequently informed staff that Fifa chief operating officer Kevin Lamour had been dismissed. Lamour had been one of the strongest internal critics of the Forward Enterprise proposal.

That sequence of events nevertheless appears to have attracted attention among Infantino’s opponents. His initial position was seen by some African officials as evidence that he could potentially be persuaded to lead an alternative campaign, even though there is currently no indication that he has decided to do so.

The issue is particularly important in Africa because the continent’s 54 voting members could play a decisive role in any attempt to remove Infantino. Under Fifa’s electoral system, an opposing candidate would need a majority of the 211 member associations, meaning at least 106 votes, to defeat the incumbent.

Africa has traditionally been one of Infantino’s strongest areas of support. However, disagreements have reportedly increased in several African countries following the decision to hold the Africa Cup of Nations every four years rather than every two years. Many officials are understood to believe that the change was imposed on the continent by Fifa at the end of last year.

The latest signs of uncertainty became particularly visible during a Caf executive committee meeting on 7 August. While Caf president Patrice Motsepe and Moroccan vice-president Fouzi Lekjaa were among those publicly supporting Infantino, sources indicated that only four of the 21 executive committee members openly declared their support.

Most of the others reportedly remained silent. According to one person familiar with the meeting, officials were reluctant to publicly reveal their positions while waiting to see how the presidential contest develops.

That silence does not necessarily mean that Caf has abandoned Infantino. The organisation has publicly stated that its executive committee unanimously reconfirmed its support for the Fifa president. Nevertheless, the reported reluctance among some officials to publicly endorse him suggests that the political situation may be more complicated behind closed doors.

Another potential challenger could be Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa, president of the Asian Football Confederation. Sheikh Salman previously challenged Infantino in the 2016 Fifa presidential election and has continued to maintain significant influence within international football.

Supporters of a possible challenge believe Sheikh Salman could attract backing from several confederations if Europe and other regions decide to unite behind him. The political calculations could therefore involve a broader coalition extending beyond Africa.

One African source suggested that Sheikh Salman could receive between 10 and 15 votes from African associations if he ultimately decides to run. The source also argued that support from Europe, Asia and Concacaf could make his campaign highly competitive.

The emergence of possible candidates is also linked to a wider debate over financial support for football associations. The Forward Enterprise proposal had been expected by some African officials to generate approximately $20 million a year for each association. Although the plan was abandoned, the financial expectations created by the proposal remain important to the political debate.

African football officials are understood to want any alternative candidate to offer a convincing plan for developing football infrastructure across the continent. Simply opposing Infantino may not be enough to win support.

One executive committee member argued that any rival backed by Uefa or another major confederation would need to demonstrate that it could provide African associations with a better financial and development framework. A proposal involving long-term cooperation with Uefa to support poorer football nations and improve infrastructure could, according to the official, attract significant backing.

The debate therefore extends beyond personalities and electoral politics. For many African associations, the future of Fifa leadership will also be judged on the amount of financial assistance available to national federations, the development of football facilities and the balance of power between Fifa and the continental confederations.

Infantino, who has been Fifa president since 2016, remains the clear favourite to retain his position unless a strong coalition emerges behind a rival. His support within several parts of world football remains substantial, and Caf has officially reaffirmed its backing.

However, the discussions surrounding Grafström demonstrate that opposition to Infantino is being actively explored in parts of Africa. The Swedish general secretary’s current position remains unclear, and there is no confirmation that he will enter the presidential race.

Much will depend on whether African federations can coordinate their positions and whether potential challengers can build a sufficiently broad international coalition. With the election approaching next year, the coming months could determine whether the current expressions of dissatisfaction develop into a formal campaign.

For now, Grafström remains inside Fifa’s senior leadership rather than being an announced challenger. Yet the fact that African federation presidents have already approached him indicates that the contest for the presidency could become considerably more complicated if he decides to listen to those urging him to stand.