Vega’s announcement marks a renewed effort to displace Infantino, a fellow Swiss citizen, who has faced multiple calls for his resignation following a series of scandals. The most prominent of these controversies involves the failed attempt to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. Vega, who has previously attempted to run for the role, believes the current climate presents a viable opportunity to present a serious alternative to Infantino’s leadership.
In his first bid in 2019, Vega failed to secure the five nominations required to appear on the ballot sheet. At the time, he noted that while more than five national federations were sympathetic to his candidacy, FIFA members were reluctant to formally nominate him due to fears of reprisals from Infantino and the executive committee. Despite having support from a significant number of federations, Vega acknowledged that as a relative unknown outside of Europe, he would have struggled to secure the majority vote necessary to defeat the incumbent.
The issues that prompted Vega’s initial challenge in 2019 remain central to the current crisis within FIFA. In early 2019, Vega criticized the proposal to sell FIFA’s international competition calendar to a Softbank-backed consortium, describing it as a dangerous conflict of interest. He highlighted the lack of financial transparency, noting that Infantino refused to disclose the identity of the potential rights holder, citing confidentiality agreements. Vega argued that the president was advised by top lawyers that the deal could not proceed, yet the initiative continued under a task force chaired by Infantino himself, leading to the dismissal of his head of legal.
These concerns have resurfaced in recent years with new attempts to commercialize FIFA’s rights. In 2026, attention has turned to an entity funded by Thrive Capital, which has links to the family of US President Donald Trump. Thrive is led by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Jared Kushner. Vega described the state of the sport as being “on life support,” asserting that FIFA requires decisive change rather than cosmetic adjustments to restore trust and stability.
“The current leadership has demoralised the game. Weak governance has damaged Fifa’s credibility and eroded trust across the global football family. We must stop this conflict from escalating,” Vega said in a statement. “Ego-driven battles within football administration must never be allowed to damage those who matter most: the players, coaches, referees and supporters around the world. They are not responsible for these conflicts. They deserve better.”
Vega’s career included 23 senior caps for Switzerland, during which he scored two goals. After playing for Cagliari in Serie A during the 1996-97 campaign, he transferred to Tottenham Hotspur. He subsequently played for Celtic, Watford, and Creteil before retiring from professional football in 2023. His professional background includes serving as the CEO and Founder of Vega Swiss Asset Management, a role he held while participating in industry events such as the Soccerex Global Convention.
While Vega’s sentiments regarding the need for reform are widely shared among FIFA members, the question remains whether he can successfully mount a serious challenge for the presidency. The path to the ballot requires overcoming the same structural and political hurdles that prevented his candidacy from materializing in 2019. The next step in the process will depend on his ability to secure the necessary nominations from national federations willing to oppose the current administration.
