Aleksander Čeferin announces bid for fourth UEFA term
At a UEFA members’ meeting in Berlin, the president said he will seek a mandate through 2031 at next year’s congress in Astana, Kazakhstan.
At an official meeting of UEFA member associations in Berlin on October 8, 2026, Aleksander Čeferin announced he will stand for a fourth term as president of UEFA.
Čeferin, who has led Europe's governing football body since 2016, said he will seek to extend his mandate through 2031 at the UEFA Congress scheduled for next year in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Change of mind after earlier decision
Only months earlier the Slovenian president had indicated he would not pursue another term, but he reversed that position ahead of the congress. The move returns one of the most influential figures in modern football to the fray for control of European football governance.
The announcement comes amid a long-running and public dispute between Čeferin and FIFA president Gianni Infantino over a range of governance and competition issues. Despite the tension with Infantino, Čeferin has already ruled out a challenge for the FIFA presidency against him.
The decision to run again will shape debates at next year’s congress in Astana and will be closely watched by national associations across Europe as they prepare to back candidates for UEFA leadership through 2031.
Photo: press material from the event
