On Friday afternoon, five men are looking to become the new FIFA President.
Two European, two Asian and one African candidate are all hoping to take up the mantle in replacing Issa Hayatou, who acted as an Interim President since October. Hayatou replaced Sepp Blatter when he was suspended after 17 years in charge of football's governing body.
While Gianni Infantino, Jerome Champagne, Sheikh Salman, Prince Ali Al Hussein and Tokyo Sexwale will all be in Zurich looking to gain some final votes, what countries and stars have already stated they will vote for the candidates?
Gianni Infantino
The UEFA General Secretary is hoping to suck up the votes that were expected to go to Michel Platini before the French native was banned from footballing activity.
Despite not receiving an endorsement from the African federation, Infantino hopes to earn votes on the continent. He will hope the majority the UEFA nations vote for him and has already earned the support of the South American and Central American confederations which bring 17 votes.
Infantino has many footballers and managers supporting his campaign including Jose Mourinho, Alex Ferguson, Roberto Carlos and Davor Suker. Whether endorsements of that calibre sway footballing federations remains to be seen.
Luis Figo, Gianni Infantino, Fabio Capello and Jose Mourinho during a press conference at Wembley Stadium, London. Picture by: John Walton / PA Wire/Press Association Images
Jerome Champagne
Champagne tried to get his name on the ballot paper last year but failed. He received enough help from confederations this time but will be seen as one of the weakest candidates.
The French native has received the support of the Palestinian FA, along with Pele and Irish captain Robbie Keane. He may also get votes from European countries, but none have publicly stated their intention to do so.
Robbie Keane has given his backing to a FIFA Presidential candidate https://t.co/Qbf1HdXlyM pic.twitter.com/ZboH0QZnLL
— Newstalk Sport (@NewstalkSport) November 18, 2015
Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa
The Bahrainian and Asian Football Confederation President looks the most likely to win the election. He has earned the endorsements of the AFC and Confederation of African Football. If all members of those confederations were to vote for the 50-year-old he would be only a handful of votes away from winning the election.
Former FIFA Presidential candidate Musa Bility has claimed that many African nations will not vote for the member of the Bahrain Royal family, which makes his potential total hard to calculate.
Sheikh Salman has been President of the Asian Football Confederation since 2013. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Prince Ali Al Hussein
The Jordanian Prince fought Sepp Blatter in the election last year, receiving 73 votes. He will do well to earn half of that amount on Friday.
Prince Ali has been hurt by the AFC backing Sheikh Salman, but that is understandable given that Salman is the confederation's President. Iraq is one of the few nations in the AFC to back Ali.He has been promised votes in Africa
He has been promised votes in Africa by Eygpt and Liberia, and has the support of Musa Bility, the Liberian FA President.
On Thursday night, Prince Ali was given a late, and perhaps crucial boost when the President of US Soccer Sunil Gulati announced that they were to give the Jordanian their vote.
.@ussoccer will vote for @AliForFIFA for President of #FIFA
— Sunil Gulati (@sunilgulati) February 25, 2016
Tokyo Sexwale
Sexwale, who is the only African in the race, had his bid seriously hampered when the Confederation of African Football refused to back him. He has failed to receive any formal endorsements but can hope that his native South Africa, along with southern African countries like Zimbabwe and Lesotho vote for him.
Sexwale was instrumental in organising the 2010 World Cup. Picture by: Victor R. Caivano / AP/Press Association Images
When the votes are counted on Friday, it looks like either Infantino or Sheikh Salman will be FIFA's new President. There are 207 votes available. If any candidate secures a two-thirds majority in the first round they win the election. If not, voting goes to a second round where a simple majority prevails.
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