French diplomat Jérôme Champagne has withdrawn from the FIFA presidential race, leaving three challengers vying to dethrone controversial incumbent Sepp Blatter.

FIFA vice-president Prince Ali of Jordan, former Portuguese star player Luis Figo and Dutch Football Association chair Michael van Praag have confirmed they will stand for election later this year.

Champagne pulled out after failing to gain enough support for his bid, with each candidate having to secure the backing of five national football associations in order to be put on the ballot.

Blatter, who will turn 79 in March, came to power in 1998 and has ruled as president for four terms – during which FIFA has increasingly been accused of corruption and irregularities in the bidding for World Cups.

The election for the new president will take place at the 65th FIFA Congress in Zürich on 29 May 2015.