UEFA has sounded out Washington Spirit owner Michele Kang as a possible challenger to Gianni Infantino in the 2027 FIFA presidential election, according to reports in France and England this week. Norwegian FA president Lise Klaveness and former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger have also been linked, but none of them has declared.
The reports matter because European football is now openly at war with Infantino. However, the Michele Kang FIFA story comes with a big caveat: the first report said she had already turned the idea down.
What the Reports Say
French newspaper L’Équipe reported on Saturday 10 October that UEFA wanted a candidate who could unite Infantino’s opponents, ideally a woman. According to that report, UEFA approached Kang, but she declined, Goal reported.
L’Équipe added that Klaveness was not currently considering a bid. Then, on 13 October, The Times reported that UEFA had approached Wenger, Kang and Klaveness, Tribal Football reported.
Some outlets have since described the two women as UEFA’s chosen candidates. Others, such as Argentina’s Ámbito, kept the original line that both had stepped back. Crucially, neither Kang, Klaveness, UEFA nor FIFA has commented publicly on the latest reports.
How a FIFA Election Works
The vote takes place at the FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco, in March 2027. Candidates must file their nominations by 18 November 2026, which gives any challenger just over a month to decide.
To stand, a candidate needs written support from at least five of FIFA’s 211 member associations, Sports Illustrated explained. Each association can back only one candidate, and every association then has one vote.
So far, only former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega has declared. He also tried to stand in 2015 and 2019 but did not make the ballot.
Why UEFA Wants to Remove Infantino
Infantino is seeking a fourth term, and FIFA said in September that “nothing has changed” on that plan, Al Jazeera reported. FIFA argues his first, shortened term does not count towards the 12-year limit, which critics dispute.
Tensions exploded this summer over a plan to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights to outside investors, which FIFA withdrew on 1 August, according to AP. Critics also attacked FIFA’s decision to award its Peace Prize to US President Donald Trump.
UEFA then declared on 27 August that it had lost confidence in Infantino and called for him to resign, Ahram Online reported. In Berlin on 8 October, European federations demanded new leadership, The Sports Encounter reported.
Still, Infantino has powerful allies. CONMEBOL backed him unanimously in April, Inside World Football reported, and all 54 African associations pledged support in October.
Who Is Michele Kang?
Kang, 67, was born in Seoul and built her fortune in health technology through her company Cognosante, which she sold to Accenture Federal Services in 2024. She became majority owner of the Washington Spirit in 2022.
Since then, she has built the biggest multi-club group in women’s football. Her Kynisca Sports company owns OL Lyonnes and London City Lionesses, who paid a world-record fee for Grace Geyoro in 2025.
In June, she also agreed a deal worth up to €101m to take control of the men’s club Olympique Lyonnais, Inside World Football reported. In addition, she has pledged $55m to U.S. Soccer, one of the largest gifts in the sport’s history.
The Michele Kang FIFA Question: Strengths and Problems
Kang’s supporters point to her business record and her investment in the women’s game. A woman has never led FIFA in its 122-year history, and UEFA reportedly sees that as a powerful message.
However, there are obvious hurdles. Kang has never held an office at a football federation, and her multi-club empire already draws scrutiny.
In May, UEFA’s women’s football chief Nadine Kessler warned there would be “no exceptions” on multi-club rules for the women’s game, City AM reported. If OL Lyonnes and London City both reach the same UEFA competition, Kang may need to sell one or place it in a blind trust.
What About Lise Klaveness?
Klaveness, a former Norway international with 73 caps, became her federation’s first female president in 2022. She made headlines that year when she criticised FIFA over Qatar’s World Cup at the Congress in Doha, Inside World Football reported.
In August, she told Norwegian newspaper VG that a candidacy was not a topic for her at all. Her federation has since asked Infantino to resign and filed complaints with FIFA’s ethics committee.
What Happens Next?
The key date is 18 November. If UEFA wants a challenger, that person must secure five nominations by then.
Until then, the Michele Kang FIFA idea remains a report, not a campaign. We will update this story if any candidate declares.
Would Kang make a good FIFA president? Tell us in the comments.
