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Roberto De Zerbi has said that Tottenham Hotspur centre-back duo Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke should both be available to start Saturday’s Premier League clash with Manchester United, while it has emerged that James Maddison suffered a small setback in training.

Spurs remain without a win in the Premier League this season and sit bottom of the table heading into the game at Old Trafford, with United boss Michael Carrick also under pressure after an indifferent start to the campaign for the Red Devils.

While Maddison is still on the road to recovery, after missing the majority of last season in his recovery from an ACL, De Zerbi claims that the playmaker could miss some minutes over the coming weeks after suffering a slight setback during the international break.

Speaking during his press conference on Friday, De Zerbi said: “He’s available but he lost three/four days at the end of last week and start of this. James is a special player for us. Gallagher is playing well in the No.10 role. We’re both frustrated because James wants to be on the pitch.

“Not a big injury and tomorrow he can play but the Premier League is tough and you need to be fit and in the right condition to run and fight.

“He is working well and this is the way. The way is to complete 3/4/5 weeks in a row without feeling pain and problems and then he’s a normal player.”

Double Dutch delight for De Zerbi

While Van de Ven and Van Hecke suffered knocks on international duty, De Zerbi has now clarified their situations.

The Italian added: “They are available to play. Micky played four games, 90 minutes and JP just three games.

“The difference is this. JP yesterday, his wife had twins and emotional aspect we have to consider but he’s available.”

Should Van Hecke not be considered good to go then Tosin Adarabioyo is expected to be given the nod as the right-sided centre-back, given that he offers better balance than the left-sided Marcos Senesi.

Dejan Kulusevski, who is still recovering from his long-term injury, will travel with the squad in a support role in a much-needed boost for both the player and the club. De Zerbi revealed: “He is working well. Tomorrow he comes with us for support.

“He is working very well and I think he is an example for everyone. Forget the player but the example of how he reacts to the injury, the character he showed this time was an example and reference to everyone.”

De Zerbi was, however, reluctant to put a timeline on the Swedish winger’s return to first-team action.

He added: “I don’t know, it’s not just my responsibility, we are working together with the medical staff. They are working very well with him, they have done special work. We have to analyse week by week.”

Two players who remain sidelined for the Old Trafford trip are Pedro Porro and Mykhailo Mudryk, with the former pushing to return against Coventry City a week on Monday.

Tottenham Hotspur have not seen Dejan Kulusevski out there on a football pitch in about 18 months, and this prolonged injury saga has gone from being desperate to a beautiful one. Because whereas Kulu's injury once seemed mysterios and even career threatening, the Swedish international has been back on the pitch over the past couple of months and inching closer towards a return.

Both Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi and Swedish national team manager Graham Potter have been toeing the line of optimism perfectly, careful not to thrust too much onto Kulu and also cautious about tempering expectations for a player coming off a serious injury when he is past the age of 25.

But the positive signs are too much to ignore, and Tottenham fans now have another one to keep in mind. Because according to a report from Matt Barlow of the Daily Mail, Dejan Kulusevski has quietly hit another big milestone.

Dejan Kulusevski may only be a month away

After returning to the pitch to jog, playing with the ball at his feet, taking shots, and then practicing with his teammates, Kulusevski is now playing in 11 on 11 matches in training. Now, Kulu isn't training in scrimmages with the first team just yet, but he did reportedly participate in a scrimmage at Tottenham Hotspur with the youth players. Per Barlow, Kulusevski was against some U18 and U21 players in an 11 on 11 over the September and October international break, putting him even closer to a potential Tottenham return.

Kulusevski 100 percent isn't coming back for the Manchester United game this weekend, and even the rivalry match against Chelsea later this month is probably too soon for him. He could possibly be named in the squad to be around his teammates, which is a strategy Roberto De Zerbi pulled with James Maddison at the end of the 2025/26 season so that the veteran could be in the mix as he returend from an ACL tear, but playing is a stretch.

That being said, November now looks like a legitimate target date for Kulusevski. Because if he is in scrimmages now, even against the youth team, that speaks to the progress in his recovery and means he is really just a few tweaks and assurances away from being able to play in actual games and get his feet and fitness under him slowly but surely. A major return is in the air for Tottenham.

Tottenham Hotspur got off the goal-scoring schneid before the international break, but they still lost that game 3-2 to Aston Villa and only scored with the game already well out of reach at 3-0. And worse yet, not a single Spurs forward scored those goals, and even accounting for the game against Liverpool, no Spurs attacking player has scored a goal this season against a Premier League level opponent in six games.

Roberto De Zerbi tried to utilize Dominic Solanke as the No. 9 with Omar Marmoush playing on the left wing in the hopes that bringing in a more traditional striker than Marmoush, who is more of a support striker, would change things. But Solanke was beyond atrocious and legitimately looked like the worst player on the entire team; so that plan is unlikely to be repeated or be otherwise benefiical to Tottenham.

And in truth, outside of a brief purple patch in the middle of the 2025/26 season following a return from a prolonged foot injury, Solanke has been blatantly bad in a Tottenham uniform, looking every bit a transfer bust since his record 65 million pound purchase from Bournemouth after a fluke 19 goal season in 2023/24.

Mathys Tel lost his starting job earlier this season

Marmoush will continue to be the main option at center forward with Savio and Mohammed Kudus flanking him, but De Zerbi has this unwritten rule in his head that his wingers have to be inverted. And if he wants an inverted left winger and an inverted right winger, then Savio is going to have play on the right in conjunction with Kudus while either Mathys Tel or Omar Marmoush plays on the left.

Tel was the main starting left winger when the season began, but De Zerbi was forced to remove him after a string of poor performances. At least, unlike Solanke, Tel could beat his man and carry threat, but his end product was shocking, including his chance creation.

And that might mean that if Tel comes back into the starting lineup, his best position would be as a center forward and not a left winger. Tel seems to be a more ideal left wing prospect who can cut inside and score, but his weaknesses are the sort of creativity and decision making a winger needs to have.

A lot of Tel's best games in the Premier League for Tottenham, including last season when he netted key goals against Leeds and Manchester United, were as a striker. He loves to shoot, he has great instincts, and he knows how to create shooting opportunities for himself on and off the ball. Even if the best starting trio for Spurs is some form of Marmoush, Savio, or Kudus, Tel has to at least be in play to replace Solanke as the main backup No. 9 De Zerbi goes to - or even the starter with Marmoush shifting to the left wing. He clearly is not a worse striker or scorer than Big Dom.

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Mathys Tel deserves a bigger role for Tottenham against Manchester United

Mohammed Kudus needs to take over Tottenham's attack against Manchester United

Will Lankshear is a reminder of another Tottenham problem Roberto De Zerbi must solve

Man Utd vs. Tottenham: Predicted starting 11 as Spurs target huge win on the road

The best possible Tottenham starting 11 with Dejan Kulusevski

Alongside Mathys Tel, Luca Williams-Barnett was arguably the best overall player of the Tottenham Hotspur preseason and certainly their biggest breakout story. But despite serious issues with creating chances and continued injury issues for James Maddison, who has yet to start a game since his torn ACL in 2025 after dislocating his shoulder on Matchday 1, LWB has not received a Premier League start and only got a few minutes off the bench early in the season in the League Cup vs. Charlton Athletic.

Already, Williams-Barnett is the subject of transfer interest. Like Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray, LWB is the latest gem midfielder at Tottenham to get overtures from major clubs around European football, with Sky Sports Germany's Florian Plettenberg adding fuel to the fire with a latest report indicating that Chelsea, Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund, and still others in the Premier League and Bundesliga are keeping a watchful eye on the 18 year old midfielder.

Roberto De Zerbi has spoken about the possibility of Williams-Barnett getting minutes this season even before the campaign started, but now Tottenham are starting to realize that they are going to have to get serious about making sure LWB is integrated into the team. They have lost too many young prospects before they actually had a chance to shine at the club, with Luka Vuskovic, Troy Parrott, and Will Lankshear all shining in the 2026/27 season moreso than current players in the squad while Spurs still sit winless after five Premier League fixtures.

Luca Williams-Barnett can already help Tottenham

Luca Wiliams-Barnett is the exact kind of player who can benefit Tottenham by playing meaningful minutes. Even though he is only a teenager, the talented midfielder has a courage about him on the ball that is difficult to teach, and the preseason showed he is clearly skilled enough to play for Tottenham since he was standing out above his peers, including some of the veteran players on the club.

Tottenham are missing that bit of quality on the ball in terms of dribbling in the midfield, and they are definitely missing a creative spark. That will return once James Maddison is healthy, and when Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert return from injuries, maybe a loan move for LWB becomes in play in the winter.

But right now, LWB is one of the best attacking midfielders available, and maybe the transfer rumors are the kick in the pants that Johan Lange and Roberto De Zerbi need to make LWB a priority.

Sir Alex Ferguson famously quipped "lads, it's Tottenham", yet such derision didn't stop the great Manchester United manager from poaching our finest talent.

There's a food chain to be adhered to, and Man Utd, as competitively irrelevant as they've been for much of the past 15 years, remain one of the sport's grandest institutions. They're England's answer to Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Once upon a time, when the Red Devils knocked, it was a different knock. The Premier League's dominant force could attract anyone they liked, but not all of Spurs' finest wound up at Old Trafford. Fergie didn't get his own way all the time, missing out on the likes of Luka Modrić and Gareth Bale.

It may come as somewhat of a surprise that only nine (male) footballers have represented both clubs since the Premier League's inauguration in '92. While some enjoyed stellar careers in red and Lilywhite, others struggled to make a name for themself.

Here's a list of every player to play for Tottenham and Man Utd.

Teddy Sheringham

Fun fact: one of my best friends was named after Teddy Sheringham. With a Spurs-supporting mum, and Manchester United-leaning dad, it was the perfect compromise.

Sheringham remains much-loved in north London and Manchester; such was the lack of animosity surrounding his departure to Old Trafford in 1997. He'd spent half a decade with Spurs, through some dire periods at the start of the Premier League era, and went on to win the lot with the Red Devils.

Many will remember his contribution to Man Utd's treble-winning success in 1998/99, when he scored the stoppage-time equaliser against Bayern Munich that set up Ole Gunnar Solksjær’s scarcely believeable winner moments later.

After conquering all in Manchester, Sheringham returned to Spurs for a couple of years in 2001, notching a pair of double-digit scoring seasons in the league.

Louis Saha

Louis Saha arrived at Tottenham during the fateful winter transfer window of 2012. Harry Redknapp's Lilywhites were playing with the verve and swagger of potential title contenders, but Daniel Levy opted against adequately backing the manager.

And thus, only the veteran Frenchman arrived alongside Ryan Nelsen. Saha was useful enough for six months but over the hilt. He scored four times in 12 appearances.

His best form on English soil arrived at Fulham, convincing United to spend £12.4m on him midway through the 2003/04 campaign. Saha started brightly at Old Trafford, and could've been something quite special for Fergie's side if he wasn't dogged by injuries.

Michael Carrick

The man Roberto De Zerbi will be up against on the touchline this weekend. Carrick returned to Old Trafford on an interim basis earlier this year and inspired Man Utd to a third-place Premier League finish and a return to the Champions League.

He enjoyed a lengthy playing career with the club, spanning more than a decade. Carrick was the unsung hero of dominant United outfits, having impressed at the start of his Premier League career with West Ham United and Spurs.

Carrick ended his Red Devils career with 464 appearances and a bucketload of silverware. Ferguson described him in 2014 as "the best English player in the game".

Dimitar Berbatov

Okay, this one stung. Sheringham and even Carrick were before my time, but Dimitar Berbatov dominates the bulk of my formative memories of this football club. I'll never forget speaking to my dad after we beat Reading in a 10-goal thriller, and him describing the Bulgarian's majesty that day.

Berbatov scored four to down the Royals, the third of which was one of his great forgotten finishes in Lilywhite. It typified his impishness.

You ask a Spurs fan of a certain generation about Berbatov and all they do is purr. We hadn't seen such grace and elegance down the Lane since David Ginola. That's why it hurt so much when Man Utd swooped in 2008.

He scored more than 50 times for the Red Devils, producing some otherworldly performances, albeit infrequently. Still, he wasn't cherished quite like he was in N17.

Frazier Campbell

It's hard for me to be so gushing about Frazier Campbell, who made 26 appearances for the two clubs combined and never delivered upon his early-career promise.

If you're ever involved in some trivia and need to pluck out a one-cap England man, Campbell's your guy.

Zeki Fryers

Blimey, it gets worse.

I can't say I remember anything at all about Zeki Fryers' 16 outings in Lilywhite. All I know is that Ferguson didn't like the nature of our agreement with Standard Liege, but the Scot needn't have worried.

Fryers would barely find his feet in the English Football League, and is still plying his trade... in the third tier of Swedish football. Bet his quality of life is decent, at least.

Christian Eriksen

Ah, here he is. While Berbatov helped me fall in love with this godforesaken club, it was the Christian Eriksen era that returned the most joy.

Eriksen was part of the 'Gareth Bale 7' that famously flopped in north London, with Eriksen—and to a lesser extent Erik Lamela and Nacer Chadli—the standout anomaly.

The Dane was the creative hub of Mauricio Pochettino's Spurs, having quickly endeared himself to supporters during a troubled 2013/14 campaign after Bale's exit. Eriksen grew from strength to strength in north London and eventually developed into one of Europe's finest playmakers.

He returned to the Premier League with Brentford in January 2022, then joined Man Utd a few months later after starring in west London. In the twilight of his career, Eriksen, who suffered a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020, was a little different. He dropped deeper in midfield and sought to orchestrate, allowing his brain to do much of the work.

Sergio Reguilón

The Spanish left-back was utterly chaotic and actually quite good for a while. I maintain that Sergio Reguilón been a hit hadn't José Mourinho's reign altered off the back of West Ham's comeback from 3-0 down at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

After that we were a slog to watch, and Reguilón, who offered so much energy down the left, suffered. Antonio Conte wasn't convinced by him, signing Ivan Perišić to play wing-back in the summer of 2022, and Reguilón subsequently embarked on several loan spells, including a forgettable stint with Man Utd in 2023/24.

Martin Dúbravka

The veteran goalkeeper was Man Utd's back-up for a brief period, and he's performing the same role for Spurs after joining in the summer.

Martin Dúbravka has only signed a one-year contract, so he might be out the door in 2027.

After a couple of weeks of respite, Tottenham Hotspur are back with a vengeance, undoubtedly keen to ruin our weekends.

A trip to Manchester United beckons for Roberto De Zerbi's side, who may have scored their first Premier League goals of the season three weeks ago against Aston Villa, but they weren't enough for help the Lilywhites to their first victory in the competiton.

A 3-2 defeat means we entered the break at the foot of the Premier League table, allowing for a dreaded period of rumination.

But the extended break allows De Zerbi's squad to reset. It's a fresh start for Spurs, and there's no reason to fear this Man Utd team. While Michael Carrick did a sterling job during the second half of last season, guiding the Red Devils up to third and back into the Champions League, he's endured an indifferent start to life as the full-time boss.

In fact, the hosts are just three points better off, having drawn at a struggling Fulham outfit before the break. The short shelf life of a modern-day manager means it won't take long for Carrick to find himself on the hot seat, and a busy period is on the horizon for the Man Utd boss.

Man Utd vs Tottenham: Preview, Prediction & Lineups

What time does Man Utd vs Tottenham kick off?

When is kick off? Saturday, 10 October 2026

What time is kick off? 17:30 BST

Where is it played? Old Trafford, Manchester

Referee: Stuart Attwell

Man Utd vs Tottenham head-to-head record (last five games)

DateResultCompetition7 February, 2026Man Utd 2–0 TottenhamPremier League8 November, 2025Tottenham 2–2 Man UtdPremier League21 May, 2025Tottenham 1–0 Man UtdEuropa League16 February, 2025Tottenham 1–0 Man UtdPremier League19 December, 2024Tottenham 4–3 Man UtdCarabao Cup

How to watch Man Utd vs Tottenham on TV & live stream

CountryTV Channel/Live StreamUnited KingdomSky Go UK, NOW, SKY GO Extra, Sky Ultra HD, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier LeagueUnited StatesNBC, fuboTV, Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes En VivoCanadaDAZN Canada, fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network CanadaMexicoFOX One

Man Utd team news

Man Utd saw several of their players called up for international duty pull out of their respective national team squads, thus thrusting their status for Saturday's clash into doubt.

Both Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford withdrew from England's camp, while Benjamin Šeško, who's been dealing with a nagging shin injury since the end of last season, also made himself unavailable for Slovenia.

Amad Diallo is dealing with an ankle injury and unlikely to be back in action this weekend, so Matheus Cunha is set to lead United's attack. Bryan Mbeumo will start down the right.

Full-backs Patrick Dorgu and Noussair Mazraoui are doubtful, and Matthijs de Ligt is merely on the comeback trail from a long-term back injury. It's coming up to almost a year on the sidelines for the Dutchman.

Summer arrival Carlos Baleba could make his first start for the club here, although an appearance off the bench seems more likely.

Man Utd predicted lineup vs Tottenham: Lammens; Maguire, Martínez, Shaw; Mainoo, Tielemans; Mbuemo, Fernandes, Rashford; Cunha.

Tottenham team news

Tottenham escaped the international break relatively unscathed, but there were concerns about the injuries Dutch duo Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke sustained.

It seems as if Van de Ven's hand injury won't see him miss any time, and there have been positive updates regarding Van Hecke's foot complaint. It's only a knock, and reports from the Netherlands suggest the centre-back could be available for the visitors this weekend.

Pedro Porro is absent due to a hamstring injury, and Dejan Kulusevski won't be ready to make his long-awaited return just yet. Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert are long-term absentees, while Mykhaylo Mudryk should be passed fit before the end of the month.

It's time for James Maddison to make his first Premier League start of the season, and De Zerbi should use Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes in a midfield tandem.

Tottenham predicted lineup vs Man Utd: Kinsky; Gray, Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Udogie; Tonali, Fernandes; Sávio, Maddison, Marmoush; Solanke

Man Utd vs Tottenham score prediction

The table paints a bleak picture, and there are valid concerns about the Lilywhites in both boxes. However, as bad as it appears on paper, De Zerbi's Spurs aren't far off.

I think we'll cash in on previous misfortune after the break, and turn things around. I really do. I genuinely wouldn't be surprised if we rocked up at Old Trafford and turned them over. What have we got to fear? United rallied down the stretch last season, but the start of 2026/27 has depicted all-too-familiar issues for the Red Devils.

This is no fortess, and I believe there's scope for us to play this match on our terms. If we contain the hosts in transition, the game will be there for us to win.

Prediction: Man Utd 1–2 Tottenham

A bumper international break arrived at just the right time for Tottenham Hotspur, even if it meant supporters had to ruminate over our current perilous standing in the Premier League table.

A 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa three weeks ago means Roberto De Zerbi's side, who hadn't scored a league goal through four games, are bringing up the rear, sparking fears in N17 of another relegation slog despite a mammoth summer splurge.

Hope remains that De Zerbi will figure things out and his new players will coalesce to stage a drastic improvement. However, October brings a couple of daunting away days, including Saturday's trip to Manchester United.

Fortunately, Spurs no longer fear trips to the Theatre of Dreams and this Man Utd outfit, who secured the most points in the Premier League last season after Michael Carrick took the reins, have endured a sluggish start to the new campaign, too.

There's an opportunity for the visitors to claim a big victory on the road and ignite their season. Here's the team De Zerbi could pick for the match.

Defense: GK Antonín Kinsky - RB Archie Gray - CB Jan Paul van Hecke - CB Micky van de Ven - LB Destiny Udogie

Pedro Porro was an injury casualty before the break, sustaining a hamstring injury in the defeat to Villa. He's certainly out of Saturday's clash, but may not miss much action thereafter. In his absence, Archie Gray will again deputise.

There have been positive updates regarding the fitness of Jan Paul van Hecke after he withdrew from the Netherlands camp with a foot injury. The Dutchman is trending towards playing this weekend, where he'll partner compatriot Micky van de Ven and hope for a more fruitful outing than he did against Nicolas Jackson.

Destiny Udogie wasn't called up by Italy, so he spent the past couple of weeks at Hotspur Way. That should see him into Saturday's starting lineup over Andy Robertson, and Antonín Kinsky is a shoo-in between the posts.

Midfield: DM Sandro Tonali - DM Mateus Fernandes - AM James Maddison

Sandro Tonali said over the break that he now feels "100% fit" after De Zerbi warned supporters about his physical condition during the first month of the season. Hopefully, the best of the Italian manifests over the coming weeks, and he should be aided by Mateus Fernandes' presence in a deeper midfield role.

Fernandes has been misprofiled as a No. 10 at the start of his Spurs career. While Rodrigo Bentancur has been useful so far, it's time for De Zerbi to use his two shiny new toys in tandem.

Dejan Kulusevski is closing in on a long-awaited comeback, and many will remember his standout performance at this ground in 2024. James Maddison was also influential in that 3-0 victory, and the Englishman must surely be ready to make his first Premier League start of the season.

Forwards: RW Savio - CF Dominic Solanke - LW Omar Marmoush

Left-wing is a problem for Spurs, but Udogie's dynamism down that flank should aid whomever earns the starting role. That'll likely be Omar Marmoush, who had a productive break for Egypt but is yet to open his account in Lilywhite.

De Zerbi doesn't quite know how to get the best out of the former Man City forward, but there's plenty of talent to work with.

If he starts down the left, Dominic Solanke will lead the line once more. The striker was pitiful against Villa and in desperate need of the break. Hopefully, he looks much sharper at the Theatre of Dreams.

Mohammed Kudus is an option for the No. 10 role but is better on the right, yet the Ghanaian is likely to play second fiddle to Sávio this weekend. There was no international call-up for the Brazilian, who'll undoubtedly receive a few jeers on hostile territory.

Former Spurs defender Ramon Vega plans to stand against Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency, but must secure federation backing and meet eligibility rules by 18 November.

Tottenham need Mohammed Kudus to drive the attack against Manchester United, with his dribbling and creativity key after a subdued start and Spurs' struggles creating chances.

Lucas Bergvall could seek a January move for more game time, with intermediaries offering Juventus the chance to sign the Spurs midfielder, potentially on loan.

Spurs have opened contract talks with Luca Williams-Barnett amid interest from Manchester United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund after the 18-year-old scored twice for England Under-19s during the latest international break.

Chelsea defender Malo Gusto could face a major decision when the January transfer window opens, with uncertainty still surrounding his role at Stamford Bridge.

The 23-year-old stayed at Chelsea after failing to secure a move in the summer, but his position at the club could become clearer in the coming months. Manchester City had shown significant interest, while Liverpool were also linked with a late move before the transfer deadline.

Malo Gusto facing Chelsea future decision

Chelsea had reportedly been looking for around £75 million to consider selling Gusto during the summer, a valuation that proved difficult for interested clubs to meet.

Manchester City ultimately decided the asking price was too high, while Liverpool explored a loan deal. Chelsea, however, were only prepared to consider a permanent transfer or an arrangement that included a commitment to buy.

Gusto has remained part of the squad and has made three Premier League starts this season. However, he will need a stronger run of performances if he is to establish himself as an important player under Xabi Alonso.

The French defender is believed to prefer remaining at Chelsea and fighting for his place, but another spell on the fringes could force him to reconsider his future, according to FlashScore.

Gusto has plenty of options

His situation with France could also influence his thinking. New national team boss Zinedine Zidane did not select Gusto for the latest squad, with concerns over his reliability reportedly playing a role.

Interest in the defender remains, with Atletico Madrid exploring a potential move. Bayern Munich, Juventus, Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain have also previously been linked with him.

Chelsea must now decide whether Gusto remains part of their long-term plans or whether a January transfer could benefit everyone involved.

If he can establish himself at Stamford Bridge, he could revive his international ambitions. Otherwise, January may give Gusto the chance to find a club where he can take on greater responsibility.

Vega announces candidacy

As reported by ESPN, Vega has stepped up as the first individual to launch a campaign against Infantino ahead of next year's election. Vega, who made 23 appearances for Switzerland and enjoyed spells at Celtic and Watford, has worked predominantly in finance since retiring.

Announcing his bid via an 11-page dossier on Wednesday, Vega stated: "I am standing because my life has prepared me to serve the game. I stand before the global football family with humility, determination and a profound sense of responsibility. Football does not belong to presidents, confederations or administrators. Football is greater than any position, any individual or any institution."

Infantino faces mounting pressure

Infantino is currently facing intense pressure from UEFA following the collapse of a controversial private investment plan. The abandoned scheme, which aimed to sell a minority stake in FIFA's commercial and event operations, severely damaged his relationship with European football leaders.

UEFA have made no secret of their desire for Infantino to step down, actively seeking a credible alternative candidate. Vega capitalised on this sentiment, adding: "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."

Calls for fundamental reform

Vega has previously explored runs for the presidency in 2015, 2019, and 2022, but failed to secure the required backing of at least five member federations. To get on the ballot this time, he must meet that threshold by November 18.

Emphasising the urgency of his campaign, Vega declared: "Football is in the emergency room, on life support. We cannot wait any longer. FIFA needs a new direction and fundamental reform. We must reunite the football family, restore trust, bring stability and modernise FIFA’s governance. This requires decisive change — not cosmetic adjustments."

What comes next for FIFA

Vega now faces a race against time to secure the necessary nominations from five member federations before the November deadline. Meanwhile, UEFA are holding a summit in Berlin on Thursday to discuss their strategy. The global football community will be watching closely as the battle for the presidency intensifies ahead of the FIFA Congress in March.