France to Back Infantino for New Term, Eyeing 2038 World Cup Bid

French Football Federation President Philippe Diallo is set to cast his vote for Gianni Infantino during his anticipated re-election as FIFA President in March 2027, according to L'Équipe. While not an unwavering supporter, Diallo is keen to avoid conflict with the head of world football, especially given France's ambitions to bid for the 2038 World Cup.

This election is shaping up to be one of the most predictable in history. Having already served two terms at the helm of the International Football Federation, Gianni Infantino is widely expected to be re-elected in March 2027. The global governing body is scheduled to appoint its new president at the general assembly, and barring a major upset, the Swiss-born official of Italian descent will retain his position.

In office since February 2016, the successor to Sepp Blatter is currently the sole candidate for his own re-election. It's highly improbable that a serious challenger will emerge to oppose Infantino in the coming months. Gregarious, multilingual, and generous to his allies, the 56-year-old leader has expanded his influence and power across the globe in recent years, encouraging most stakeholders to rally behind him.

According to L'Équipe, Diallo will be among those supporting him. While not an "unconditional supporter," the President of the French Football Federation (FFF) will cast his vote for Infantino, driven by "prudence" and "pragmatism." Despite criticizing him before the 2026 World Cup, deeming the prize money for federations too low compared to the last Club World Cup, Diallo is unwilling to enter into open confrontation with Infantino.