Ramón Vega will run against Infantino in the FIFA presidential election

Ramon Vega, a former defender for the Swiss national team, Tottenham, Celtic, and Watford, has announced his intention to run for the presidency of FIFA. The 55-year-old Swiss national has become the first candidate to officially challenge the organization’s current head, Gianni Infantino, in the upcoming election.

Since retiring from professional soccer in 2004, Vega has worked in the financial sector. Criticizing the current leadership, he stressed the need for fundamental reforms in world soccer and the restoration of trust in the organization. According to him, the interests of players, coaches, referees, and fans must become the top priority.

This is not the Swiss national’s first attempt to lead FIFA. He considered running in 2015 following Sepp Blatter’s suspension and also announced his intention to compete against Infantino in 2019, but at that time he was unable to secure the support of the required number of national associations to make it onto the ballot.

This was reported by the BBC.

UEFA has convened its 55 member associations for a summit in Berlin, Germany, where they plan to agree on a strategy to find a candidate capable of challenging FIFA President Gianni Infantino in the election. The previously scheduled meeting is set to take place on Thursday amid efforts by European soccer officials to bring about a change in the leadership of world soccer.

In Switzerland, the Swiss Football Association (SFV) has withdrawn its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s candidacy in the upcoming election for the head of world soccer. The association’s Executive Committee had previously, in June 2026, declared its support for Infantino.