Swiss-Italian Gianni Infantino was re-elected until 2027 as president of Fifa, which he has held since 2016, without competition and by acclamation at the body’s 73rd Congress in Kigali on Thursday.

The 52-year-old, who was re-elected by delegates from the 211 member federations in 2019, could remain at the helm of world football until 2031 as his first three-year tenure is considered incomplete.

Gianni Infantino has been elected FIFA President for the 2023-2027 term of office by acclamation.#FIFACongress pic.twitter.com/akzQV0IMNO

— FIFA (@FIFAcom) March 16, 2023

“I love you all,” the world football boss reacted to the standing-room-only crowd, with the voting system failing to count the dissenting votes.

He has a solid financial record, with an 18% increase in income and a 45% increase in reserves over the 2019-22 cycle compared to the previous one, which has allowed Fifa to further increase its subsidies to confederations and federations.

In terms of governance, his last mandate was marked by a vast reform of transfers, the introduction of maternity leave for professional women players, and more protective rules of disciplinary procedure for victims of sexual violence.

The main projects for the next few years have already been approved, starting with the expansion of the men’s World Cup from 32 to 48 teams from the 2026 edition, shared between the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

By opting for a group stage with twelve groups of four teams, the tournament will jump from 64 to 104 matches, a huge event designed to boost ticket sales and attract more broadcasters.

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