Lise Klaveness, the head of the Norwegian Football Association, has pushed back against speculation that she may mount a challenge for the FIFA presidency, while also dismissing an endorsement from former FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

Klaveness, a former Norwegian international player who was elected to lead her national federation in 2022, has frequently been floated as a potential rival to incumbent president Gianni Infantino. At that year's FIFA Congress in Doha, she delivered a pointed address urging FIFA to take greater responsibility for human rights and governance — a speech that set her apart from many federation leaders reluctant to publicly challenge the organisation. She has been a long-standing critic of FIFA's direction under Infantino, who has held the presidency since 2016.

Infantino is currently fighting to retain his position amid a fierce backlash over a confidential proposal to sell stakes in a newly formed entity that would oversee the commercial rights to the World Cup — a move that would for the first time bring outside investors into the governance of FIFA's most valuable commercial asset.

"As of now, we have a sitting president who is still sitting, and that is what we are dealing with," Klaveness said. "When and if he resigns, or if he does not resign and seeks re-election, there must be a counter-candidate. Then we must decide on that, and then you will know."

She added: "The press speculates about many candidates, and that's the press's job, but I don't hear any internal discussions about real candidates. At least not with us. I register these names, and I also register that my name is mentioned. It is not something that is a topic at all."

Blatter's Endorsement and Klaveness's Rebuttal

Among those publicly backing Klaveness was Blatter, who was removed from office amid an organisation-wide corruption scandal in 2015 — a crisis that brought U.S. federal indictments against senior officials and led to Blatter's own ethics ban. He led FIFA from 1998 and has since become a vocal critic of Infantino.

"Lise Klaveness deserves the utmost respect," Blatter wrote on social media. "She was the only one who consistently took a clear stance and did not follow the flow. And in FIFA, the time has come for a woman to take over the leadership."

Klaveness rebuffed the endorsement, referencing Blatter's past statements on women's football — including a suggestion that female players wear more revealing kits.

"I'm not on X, but I saw this. Sepp Blatter was president when I was a player," she said. "I remember he wanted us to play with shorter shorts, and then I commented on it. But I have no comment on this."

Uncertain Path to an Election

No challenger has yet emerged to contest Infantino, who is presently on track to be re-elected unopposed next year, provided he is not forced out beforehand. FIFA, which comprises 211 member associations, has never had a woman serve as president in its 120-year history.

UEFA, the AFC, and CONCACAF — the confederations representing Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean along with Central and North America — have all declared a loss of confidence in his leadership.

CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, currently a FIFA vice president, is reported to be weighing a potential candidacy, while UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin has given no indication of his intentions.