Prince Ali is the President of the Jordan Football Association. He is also the founder and president of the West Asian Football Federation, and under his presidency the membership has increased to 13 countries.
Prince Ali announced his candidacy for the position of FIFA President representing Asia on Thursday 7 October 2010. Ali's campaign focused on change, football ideals, and uniting and raising the profile of Asian countries, within FIFA and generally.[6] Prince Ali won the election for the position of FIFA VP representing Asia (25 votes to 20 for his opponent Dr. Chung Mong-joon) at the AFC Congress that was held in Doha, Qatar, on 6 January 2011. As FIFA President, the Prince serves as a member of both the FIFA Executive Committee and the AFC Executive Committee.
Prince Ali successfully championed the lifting of FIFA's ban on the hijab in women's football.[7]
Ali was one of a number of FIFA officials to call for the publication of the Garcia Report into allegations of corruption surrounding Russia and Qatar's bids for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups.[8]
Ali lost the 2015 FIFA Presidency election to Sepp Blatter after resigning before second round voting took place. Blatter secured 60 more votes than Ali in the first round of voting, shy of the two thirds majority required to win in the first round, though with only a simple majority required in subsequent rounds Ali's defeat appeared to be inevitable.