Al-Khelaifi, who also chairs the European Football Clubs (EFC) group and sits on UEFA’s executive committee, dismissed suggestions that he was considering a bid while speaking at a news conference following the EFC’s annual meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Tuesday.
“I have zero interest in FIFA, zero agenda [or] ambition to be there,” Al-Khelaifi said.
“I don't think I'm the right guy for this position and I don't want to go actually, I'm enjoying what I'm doing. I think FIFA's not for me. Thank you.”
His comments come at a politically sensitive period for world football, with European football authorities seeking an alternative to Infantino ahead of the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 18 in Morocco.
Al-Khelaifi had been viewed as a potentially influential figure in any European-backed challenge because of his positions within club and European football structures.
As chairman of the EFC, an organisation representing about 900 clubs, he has a significant role in representing the interests of European clubs. He is also a member of UEFA’s executive committee, placing him within the leadership structure of the organisation at the centre of efforts to challenge Infantino.
His links to Qatar could also have given him potential reach beyond Europe. Al-Khelaifi is a government minister in Qatar, which hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup and has so far supported Infantino.
Despite those connections, however, he made clear that he has no intention of pursuing the top job in world football.
Ceferin steps up criticism
The EFC meeting took place against the backdrop of growing tensions within international football politics.
Infantino has faced opposition from European football leaders following the collapse of a plan involving a FIFA subsidiary that would have sought private investment in future World Cup profits.
The proposal, which was revealed two months ago, was defeated within days and has since become a major source of friction between FIFA and sections of European football.
With the deadline for potential candidates to enter the FIFA presidential race seven weeks away, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has been leading the European campaign against Infantino.
Addressing club leaders in Copenhagen, Ceferin delivered a pointed speech in which he criticised what he described as the concentration of power within football, although he did not mention Infantino by name.
“Football has no need for emperors,” Ceferin said.
He also criticised the bending of rules and the exclusion of stakeholders from important decisions.
“It's time to say enough,” he said. “Rules bent when inconvenient. Those meant to have a say simply cut out. And football's future treated as just another bargaining chip.”
Ceferin’s remarks came amid scrutiny of Infantino’s increasingly close relationship with political leaders, including United States President Donald Trump.
The UEFA president also referred to the creation of an award for a politician, an apparent reference to Infantino’s recent interactions with Trump.
Al-Khelaifi backs Ceferin
While ruling himself out of the FIFA contest, Al-Khelaifi openly backed Ceferin’s leadership of UEFA.
“Football needs great leaders like you,” Al-Khelaifi told Ceferin during his speech.
He went further by urging the UEFA president to seek another term.
“We ask you to stand for president again next year,” he said.
Ceferin has previously announced that he plans to leave the UEFA presidency in 2027. However, he remains eligible to seek a fourth and final term and is currently expected to face no opposition in UEFA’s presidential election.
The election is scheduled for April in Astana, Kazakhstan, where representatives of UEFA’s 55 member associations are expected to vote.
FIFA race enters crucial phase
The developments in Copenhagen come as football’s governing bodies enter a crucial period ahead of the FIFA presidential election.
Infantino was first elected FIFA president in 2016, succeeding Sepp Blatter after a major corruption crisis that resulted in investigations by United States and Swiss authorities.
Ceferin was also elected to lead UEFA in 2016, taking office during the fallout from the same crisis.
Both men remain eligible for another term in their respective organisations, although their positions on the future direction of global football have increasingly diverged.
For European football, the immediate challenge is finding a candidate capable of contesting Infantino before the FIFA nomination deadline.
Al-Khelaifi’s decision removes one prominent name from consideration, leaving European football leaders with the task of identifying another candidate while the March 18 election approaches.