Arab football federations endorse Gianni Infantino for FIFA re-election amid European opposition

Regional endorsement in Jeddah

The Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA) affirmed its backing for FIFA President Gianni Infantino on 1 October 2026 during its 81st board meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The regional body represents 22 national associations spanning two continental confederations, incorporating 12 members from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and 10 members from the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Full member associations include Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. The decision reinforces an earlier declaration from August 2026, when six Arab associations (Qatar, 2030 World Cup co-host Morocco, Egypt, Mauritania, Lebanon, and Sudan) issued a formal endorsement that included four members of the FIFA Council. Support was further solidified on 29 September 2026, when the eight-member Gulf Football Federation announced its backing for the incumbent leader.

In a formal communiqué released after the Jeddah meeting, the organisation commended the FIFA president for his administrative record.

Gianni Infantino has over the past ten years strengthened the unity of the global football community, further developed football, and significantly expanded its global reach.

Governance disputes and commercial backlash

The collective backing from Arab federations arrives during prolonged institutional scrutiny over Infantino's administrative leadership. In July 2026, Infantino attempted to introduce a commercial package that involved selling stakes in FIFA competitions, including the men's World Cup, to private financial entities that included parties associated with US political figures. The initiative provoked fierce opposition across multiple confederations, with UEFA, CONCACAF, and elements of the AFC rebelling against the transaction, forcing FIFA leadership to abandon the proposal. Dissent intensified on 30 September 2026, when the Swiss Football Association officially withdrew its support for Infantino's re-election campaign. The Swiss governing body stated that its decision stemmed from the need for enhanced institutional transparency and accountability within international football governance.

To counter administrative opposition, Infantino distributed an official letter in late September 2026 to all 211 FIFA member associations. The communication proposed establishing an independent review to evaluate the governing body's decision-making structures and internal governance procedures. Infantino also sought to repair relations by presenting options for allocating additional development funding from FIFA's financial reserves and inviting member federations into structured dialogues regarding prospective institutional reforms.

Continental divisions and electoral timetable

The political rift sets up a divided landscape ahead of the upcoming presidential vote. Infantino, who is 56 years old, formally announced his re-election candidacy in May 2026, seeking to extend his tenure at the head of world football. European governing body UEFA has pledged to present an opposing candidate prior to the official nomination deadline in November 2026. While European and North American federations continue to demand changes in leadership and institutional governance, Infantino retains strong structural alliances across Africa and the Gulf region, where he previously supported Qatar during the 2022 World Cup and oversaw the awarding of the 2034 tournament to Saudi Arabia.

The decisive ballot is scheduled for 18 March 2027 at the 77th FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco. Each of FIFA's 211 member associations holds a single vote, requiring candidates to build broad multi-continental coalitions. With UEFA committed to entering a formal rival before November, the competing endorsements across Europe and the Arab world establish the framework for the 2027 presidential contest.