Six Arab Football Federations Support Infantino Amid Dispute Over World Cup Plan

FIFA President Gianni Infantino received public support from the heads of six Arab football federations on Thursday as he faces mounting opposition over his withdrawn proposal to bring private investment into the World Cup. The football officials from Morocco, Qatar, Egypt, Mauritania, Lebanon and Sudan expressed their “full support” for Infantino and reaffirmed their confidence in his leadership at a time when his position has come under growing pressure. The statement is significant because Morocco, one of the signatories, is a co-host of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, while four of the six officials who signed the declaration are members of the FIFA Council.

The support therefore provides Infantino with backing from influential figures within the organisation and from a country that will play a central role in hosting the next major edition of the tournament after 2026. The six federation leaders said they appreciated Infantino's efforts to expand football opportunities globally and strengthen the sport's role in bringing communities together. They also said they wanted to continue working with the FIFA president towards what they described as a stronger and more prosperous future for world football. The statement specifically highlighted the contribution of Arab football to the global game.

The declaration comes as Infantino faces a serious challenge over his proposal to raise around $20 billion by selling stakes connected to World Cup-related commercial assets to private equity investors. The plan triggered a backlash among football officials who questioned its implications for FIFA's governance, finances and the distribution of revenues generated by its flagship tournament. Infantino subsequently withdrew the proposal following the opposition. European football's governing body UEFA has emerged as one of the strongest critics of the plan. UEFA has warned that it could consider a boycott of FIFA matches and events if the proposal or similar measures threaten the established structure of international football.

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The dispute has widened beyond Europe, with other major confederations also voicing concerns over FIFA's approach. UEFA joined forces with CONCACAF, which governs football in North, Central America and the Caribbean, and the Asian Football Confederation in issuing an open letter on Monday. The organisations described Infantino's proposal as a “fundamental breach of trust” and accused FIFA's leadership of “deception”. Their intervention has increased the pressure on Infantino and raised the prospect of a deeper confrontation between FIFA and some of the world's most influential regional football bodies.

Infantino's supporters, however, argue that his leadership has expanded the global reach of football and created new commercial and development opportunities across different regions. The six Arab federations echoed that position in their statement, praising his efforts to increase opportunities and strengthen football's role worldwide. Their backing demonstrates that opposition to the FIFA president is not universal, even as criticism from several major confederations intensifies. The dispute comes at a sensitive time for FIFA as preparations continue for upcoming World Cups and the organisation seeks to expand the commercial value of its competitions.

The 2026 World Cup will be followed by the 2030 tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain, with opening matches planned in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. FIFA's ability to maintain cooperation among its confederations will be crucial as it navigates those preparations. The six Arab federations' intervention could provide Infantino with important political support within FIFA, particularly given the involvement of several FIFA Council members. However, the statement does not resolve the underlying disagreement over the proposed private investment plan.

With UEFA and other confederations demanding greater clarity and opposing what they see as a threat to established governance arrangements, Infantino still faces a significant challenge in maintaining consensus across global football. For now, the FIFA president has the backing of Morocco, Qatar, Egypt, Mauritania, Lebanon and Sudan, but the broader dispute remains unresolved. The withdrawal of the investment proposal has removed the immediate plan that triggered the revolt, yet the confrontation has exposed deeper tensions over FIFA's commercial ambitions, decision-making and relationship with its regional confederations.

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