Shortlist of candidates for FIFA presidency announced

The World Football Federation (FIFA) has officially announced the shortlist of candidates running for the position of FIFA President.

The shortlist includes four candidates: FIFA President Sepp Blatter, FIFA Vice President Ali Bin Al Hussein, Dutch Football Federation President Michael van Praag and Portuguese football legend Luis Figo.

Figo will compete with Sepp Blatter. Source: espn

FIFA announced: "After reviewing the legal procedures of the candidates' dossiers, the Election Committee officially confirmed and announced the candidates eligible to run for the FIFA presidency at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland on 29 May 2015."

"The candidates include Joseph S. Blatter (Switzerland), Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein (Jordan), Luis Figo (Portugal) and Michael van Praag (Netherlands). To be recognized as a candidate, each underwent a screening by the Ethics Committee on the terms of the FIFA presidential election regulations."

To be included on this list, candidates must receive the support of five FIFA member countries - one of the first criteria for running for the presidency.

Figo was the latest to enter the race, but the former Portugal midfielder is now enjoying a surge in popularity after promising change if elected president.

The former Portuguese midfielder is also highly regarded and expected to "overthrow" Sepp Blatter, who has held the position of FIFA President since 1998.

According to Vietnam+