FIFA President and Executive Governance: What to Know in 2026

With the FIFA World Cup right around the corner, world football's governing body is under a brighter spotlight than ever. Behind the drama on the pitch is a massive administrative machine that dictates rules, handles astronomical revenues, and manages relationships across every corner of the globe.

Whether you are tracking the latest regulatory changes or trying to understand how football politics work, understanding FIFA’s executive leadership is key. This guide breaks down the core figures, past and present FIFA President, who shape the beautiful game, and answers the most frequently searched questions about FIFA's leadership structure.

Who is the FIFA President in 2026?

The current President of FIFA is Gianni Infantino. The Swiss-Italian administrator has been in office since February 26, 2016, when he was elected during an Extraordinary Congress following a major organizational restructure.

Infantino was subsequently re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023. His current term runs through 2027, and he has already received widespread backing from continental confederations (including CAF and the AFC) to stand for re-election again. His presidency has been defined by major commercial growth and expanding FIFA’s flagship tournaments—most notably expanding the [year] World Cup to a historic 48-team format.

Who Was the Former President of FIFA?

Directly before Gianni Infantino took charge, Sepp Blatter served as the eighth President of FIFA, holding the position for 17 years from 1998 until December 2015.

Blatter's long and highly controversial tenure came to an end amid a massive, US-led corruption investigation into world football governance in 2015. Following Blatter's suspension, Issa Hayatou (then-President of the African Confederation, CAF) briefly stepped in as the acting FIFA President from October 2015 until the special elections in early 2016.

Who Was the Former CEO of FIFA?

Strictly speaking, FIFA does not use the corporate title of "CEO" for its operational head; instead, the equivalent administrative role is the Secretary General.

The most notable recent "former" long-term operational head was Jérôme Valcke, who served as Secretary General under Sepp Blatter from 2007 until he was dismissed in late 2015 during the corruption clean-out. Following the structural reforms under Infantino, Fatma Samoura made history as the first female Secretary General (2016–2023).

Current Leadership Note: As of late 2023 and continuing through 2026, the operational role equivalent to CEO is held by Mattias Grafström, who serves as FIFA's Secretary General.

Who Are the 211 Members of FIFA?

FIFA is comprised of 211 member associations, representing countries and territories across six geographic continents. Each national association manages football within its respective borders, but to be a part of FIFA, they must also belong to one of the six regional confederations:

Confederation	Region	Member Count
UEFA	Europe	55
CAF	Africa	54
AFC	Asia & Australia	47
Concacaf	North, Central America & Caribbean	41
OFC	Oceania	11
CONMEBOL	South America	10

While the list spans powerhouse nations like Brazil (CBF), England (The FA), and Germany (DFB), it also includes smaller territories and islands that function as independent footballing nations under FIFA rules, such as Anguilla, Montserrat, and San Marino. Every member association, regardless of size, gets exactly one vote at the annual FIFA Congress where presidential elections and major policy changes are decided.