A two-thirds majority is required for victory in the opening round; in subsequent rounds more than 50 per cent of the vote is needed, with the candidate receiving the lowest number of votes dropping out.
Africa has 54 votes, Europe 53, Asia 46, North and Central America and the Caribbean 35, Oceania 11 and South America 10.
Here are the five candidates to succeed Blatter as head of FIFA, and where their support will likely come from.
Gianni Infantino
Football Association chairman Greg Dyke has announced England's governing body will support the Swiss-Italian UEFA general secretary, who stepped into the FIFA race after UEFA president Michel Platini was banned. Infantino was the only one of five candidates to attend a recent meeting of Asian Football Confederation officials, lobbying for votes which could prove decisive. Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa
The AFC came out in support of their president but there will be no en bloc vote. Sheikh Salman has the backing of the Confederation for African Football, but again voting is expected to be divided. He has support from some members in the Caribbean and South America, making him the front runner. However, hehas consistently had to deny allegations relating to the Bahrain uprising of 2011. Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein
The Jordanian prince's chances of success receded when the AFC backed Sheikh Salman. But Prince Ali, who rivalled Sepp Blatter for the presidency last May, only to concede defeat after the first round of voting, could also benefit from the fractions in Africa. Jerome Champagne
Former FIFA deputy general secretary Champagne has the support of Pele, widely regarded as the game's greatest player. He has other supporters within the game - from George Weah to Robbie Keane - but his chances of success seem slim, with few federations making their backing public. Tokyo Sexwale
The South African, a former anti-apartheid activist who was imprisoned on Robben Island with Nelson Mandela, suffered a blow when he did not receive the backing of CAF. He appears to be the most likely to be eliminated early. 
