Asian Football Confederation backs Gianni Infantino for fourth term as FIFA President

23 Oct 2026, 09:18 by Vaishnavi Verma · KalingaTV

New Delhi: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has endorsed Gianni Infantino for re-election as FIFA president, strengthening the Swiss administrator’s campaign for a fourth term ahead of the election scheduled for March 2027.

AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa announced the backing at the confederation’s extraordinary congress in Tokyo on Friday.

The endorsement comes amid growing scrutiny of Infantino’s leadership and could prove significant given the voting strength of the AFC’s 47 member associations.

Addressing the gathering, Sheikh Salman reaffirmed the AFC’s commitment to supporting Infantino’s leadership as he seeks a fresh mandate.

He acknowledged that the two sides had faced disagreements in the past but emphasised the importance of moving forward through cooperation and a shared vision for football.

The endorsement marks a shift from the tensions that emerged earlier this year, when the AFC joined European and North and Central American football authorities in criticising Infantino over a proposed plan to bring private investors into FIFA’s premium competitions.

The controversy centred on FIFA Forward Enterprise, a proposed initiative reportedly valued at $4.2 billion that aimed to attract private investment linked to FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup.

The plan was subsequently abandoned following criticism from several football governing bodies over transparency and governance concerns.

Infantino apologised to FIFA’s ruling council for mistakes made during the process, while the AFC leadership indicated that past disagreements should not prevent future cooperation.

Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, is seeking another term in the election scheduled for March 2027. The deadline for rival candidates to submit their nominations is November 18 and no challenger had formally entered the race at the time of the announcement.

Although the AFC’s endorsement provides a boost to his campaign, support among its member associations may not be unanimous.

Infantino continues to face criticism from sections of European football, making the coming months crucial as the campaign gathers momentum.

Asian Football Confederation backs Gianni Infantino for fourth term as FIFA President

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