Blatter Backs Klaveness for FIFA Presidency
Norwegian Football Federation president highlighted as a potential challenger to Gianni Infantino in next March's elections.
Norwegian Football Federation president highlighted as a potential challenger to Gianni Infantino in next March's elections.
Gianni Infantino, the current FIFA president and so far the only candidate for the position, could face a serious challenger in next March's elections. That challenger is Lise Klaveness, president of the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF), whose candidacy was endorsed today on social media platform X by none other than the former head of world football's governing body, Sepp Blatter.
Blatter, whose tenure ended in disgrace in 2015 amid numerous corruption scandals, had nothing but praise for the Norwegian official. "Lise Klaveness deserves the utmost respect. She was the only one who always took a clear stance and did not follow the established paths. And in FIFA, it is high time a woman took the helm," Blatter wrote on his X profile on August 4, 2026.
The former president's endorsement comes at a time when Infantino is facing growing calls for his resignation. Numerous national associations have withheld their support, and among those calling for his departure is UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin. Alongside him, the heads of CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation are also demanding his resignation.
Several prominent international media outlets, including Sports Illustrated and Reuters, have already highlighted Klaveness as a potential candidate who could challenge Infantino in the upcoming elections. Her potential candidacy gains further weight with Blatter's public endorsement.
Lise Klaveness currently serves as president of the Norwegian Football Federation and is known for her direct and uncompromising stances. It is precisely this trait that Blatter highlighted, emphasizing that she never followed the mainstream. Her name being in the running for the highest position in world football signals a potential shift in direction at the top of FIFA.
Although Infantino currently has no official opponent, growing pressure and Blatter's support for Klaveness suggest that the election race could become more uncertain than initially expected. It remains to be seen whether the Norwegian official will officially throw her hat into the ring.
