Aleksander Ceferin has confirmed he will stand for a final term as UEFA president, ending speculation that he could challenge Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency.
Ceferin made the announcement during a senior executives’ programme in Berlin, saying he intended to remain in charge of European football’s governing body for another term.
The Slovenian had said in February 2024 that he would not continue as UEFA president beyond February 2027. He has since changed his position and will now pursue re-election, meaning he will not enter the race to oppose Infantino at the FIFA presidential election.
Ceferin became UEFA president in 2019 and will have spent eight years in the role. Under the organisation’s previous statutes, that period represented the maximum permitted length of service and would have prevented him from continuing.
However, a recent amendment to UEFA’s statutes allows him to remain in office for a further four years.
Ceferin still has several months to submit his candidacy formally. UEFA told its member associations this week that the deadline for nominations is 22 January.
The election will take place at UEFA’s 50th Ordinary Congress, scheduled for 22 April in Astana. The newly elected president will serve a four-year term.
It remains unclear whether UEFA will put forward an alternative candidate to Infantino in the FIFA presidential election. That vote is due to be held on 18 March, while the deadline for submitting nominations is 18 November.
Infantino is the only figure named in connection with the FIFA presidency in the information released so far, while UEFA has not yet confirmed whether it will support or nominate another candidate.