FIFA President Gianni Infantino Gains Asia And Africa Support For 2027 Re-Election
Infantino gains Asia and Africa backing for FIFA re-election bid.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has received a significant boost ahead of the 2027 FIFA presidential election after securing public backing from both the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) during the FIFA Congress held in Vancouver. The endorsements strengthen Infantino’s position as he prepares to seek another term as head of world football’s governing body.
The CAF and AFC confirmed their support in separate statements, with African football leaders saying they had “unanimously agreed” to back Infantino. The Asian Football Confederation also reiterated its continued support, with AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa stating that FIFA is in its strongest position under Infantino’s leadership. Together, Asia and Africa account for 101 votes in FIFA’s 211-member electoral system, making their backing highly influential in the presidential race. Infantino has also reportedly secured support from CONMEBOL, the South American confederation, which contributes a further 10 votes.
Infantino, who first became FIFA president in 2016 following the corruption scandal that led to Sepp Blatter’s departure, confirmed during the Congress that he will run for re-election in 2027. He has already been re-elected twice, in 2019 and 2023. Although FIFA statutes typically limit presidents to three terms, he remains eligible because his initial partial term from 2016 to 2019 was not counted toward the term limit following internal rule interpretations.
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His tenure has not been without controversy. Infantino has faced criticism over his close association with political figures, including US President Donald Trump, who was previously awarded a FIFA Peace Prize, prompting questions over FIFA’s political neutrality. That decision led to a formal ethics complaint by advocacy group FairSquare, which argued it violated FIFA’s governing principles.
Infantino has also drawn scrutiny for major structural changes to global football competitions, including the expansion of the FIFA World Cup to 48 teams and the introduction of a revamped 32-team FIFA Club World Cup. Critics have questioned whether these changes prioritize commercial interests over sporting tradition, though supporters argue they increase global participation and development.
Despite controversies, Infantino’s administration has overseen record financial growth for FIFA. The organization expects revenues of around $13 billion from the upcoming World Cup cycle, while its FIFA Forward Program has significantly increased funding to member associations. Between 2027 and 2030, FIFA plans to distribute approximately $2.7 billion to its 211 member associations—an eightfold increase compared to a decade ago—strengthening Infantino’s claim of leading a financially transformed organization.
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