Infantino says broad backing puts him in strong position for FIFA re-election

Gianni Infantino says he has the backing of the “vast, vast majority” of FIFA member associations as he seeks a fourth and final term as president. His claim follows an endorsement from the Asian Football Confederation and comes after a backlash over a now-abandoned plan to sell part of FIFA’s World Cup commercial rights to private investors. Infantino made the comments in an interview with the BBC released on Saturday at the Under-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan.

He said FIFA’s 211 member associations should have an equal vote and voice, and argued that their views must be respected as part of the organisation’s democratic process. The Asian Football Confederation endorsed Infantino on Friday, giving his re-election campaign a significant boost. Channels Television reported that Infantino also said all African countries had endorsed him, while he was speaking to associations around the world.

The reports do not provide a complete list of supporters or an independently verified total. The endorsement marks a change in the political atmosphere around the FIFA president. Two months earlier, the proposed private investment project had triggered strong criticism from football leaders in Europe, North America and Asia.

The heads of UEFA, the AFC and CONCACAF had signed a letter saying that football “belongs to no individual”. Infantino apologised to FIFA’s ruling council the previous week for what ABC News Australia described as “mistakes” in the secretive investment plan. European delegates reportedly left that meeting disappointed, saying there was still insufficient clarity.

The plan has since been shelved, but its handling continues to shape the contest around Infantino’s leadership. The original proposal involved selling stakes in profits from the World Cup through a commercial subsidiary, according to ABC News Australia. It was described as a plan to sell off a portion of the commercial rights of FIFA competitions to private investors.

The supplied reports do not state how much money was involved or identify the proposed investors. Infantino has faced calls to stand down, but he dismissed the suggestion that the criticism had removed him from a strong position. Channels Television reported that no rival candidate had yet come forward, with the deadline for nominations set for 18 November.

The election itself is due to take place in March. The election is described in the reports as one for a fourth and final term. Infantino said the decision would ultimately belong to FIFA’s member associations, which would determine who should serve as president and how the organisation should be run.

His comments acknowledge that there are differing views inside football while emphasising the support he says he has secured. There is a meaningful distinction between the reports’ wording and the certainty of the political picture. Infantino himself claims backing from a vast majority, while the reported AFC endorsement and statements about African support show important regional support.

However, no full vote count, formal list of all endorsements or confirmed challenger is supplied. The immediate balance of power therefore appears favourable to Infantino, particularly after the AFC’s public backing, but the nomination period remains open. His re-election effort will continue under the shadow of the failed investment proposal and the criticism from leaders who previously questioned the concentration of authority within FIFA.