Faces of FIFA's Presidential Race

Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein (Jordan)

The brother of Jordan's King Abdullah is taking his second crack at becoming FIFA president. In last May's election, he managed to force Blatter into an embarrassing second-round of voting, but he threw in the towel ahead of the runoff - with victory looking impossible. In his work at FIFA, the 39-year-old helped lift the ban on headscarves in the women's game.

Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa (Bahrain)

The head of the Asian Football Confederation since 2013 was re-elected unopposed this year. The 49-year-old enjoys strong support in Asia, but faces allegations of complicity in Bahrain's 2011 suppression of a public revolt. He has described these as "false, nasty lies, which have been repeated again and again in the past and the present."

Jerome Champagne - old order, 'new FIFA'

The 1998 World Cup helped ease the French diplomat into football circles - plus a close alliance with Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini as they broke into FIFA's top echelons together. Champagne later split with Blatter and Platini, and tried to run for the presidency last time out, but couldn't secure enough support. Unlike most candidates, he has a prepared manifesto from the last campaign.prepared manifesto from the last campaign.

Tokyo Sexwale - jailed with Mandela, now mining mogul

"FIFA, the organization of the beautiful game, is damaged. The brand is severely undermined," according to the 62-year-old. Sexwale spent 13 years at Robben Island prison during Apartheid; a friend of Nelson Mandela's, his later career in mining made him one of South Africa's wealthiest men. He's been with FIFA for a decade, including a post on the anti-racism and anti-discrimination committee.

Gianni Infantino - no Platini, no problem?

Infantino, 45, who holds both Swiss and Italian passports,has been UEFA's general secretary since 2009, effectively President Platini's right hand. Given Platini's own position, that supporting role might morph into something rather different between now and February. Infantino has said that if Platini does manage to enter the race, he will withdraw his own candidacy.