Swiss Football Association withdraws endorsement of FIFA President Gianni Infantino

Reversal in Zurich

The Swiss Football Association (SFV) announced on 30 September 2026 that it had withdrawn its backing for Gianni Infantino's bid for another term as FIFA president. The central board of the Swiss governing body decided to reverse its June endorsement during an executive meeting on 25 September 2026. Federation officials cited a reassessment of developments across recent months, pointing to concerns over leadership, transparency, and internal decision-making procedures within world football's governing body. SFV president Peter Knäbel confirmed the decision after reviewing a letter Infantino sent to member federations offering reform discussions.

“The Swiss Football Association expects FIFA's leadership to uphold the highest standards of transparency, accountability and institutional responsibility.”

Commercial proposals and tournament rulings

Opposition to Infantino gathered momentum following controversies surrounding the World Cup in the United States. Infantino faced scrutiny after FIFA rescinded a red-card suspension for American striker Folarin Balogun prior to the round of 16 match against Belgium, an intervention that followed a phone conversation between Infantino and US President Donald Trump. Concerns grew further in late July over the FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative, which sought to sell a 20 percent commercial stake in tournament rights to private investors linked to Trump family associates. The plan prompted the European confederation UEFA to threaten a competition boycott, forcing Infantino to withdraw the proposal within days.

Continental divide across member associations

The withdrawal by Infantino's home federation aligns Switzerland with a coalition of at least 50 national associations opposing his continuation in office. European federations including England, France, Italy, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, and Nordic countries have declared against him, following an early break initiated by Wales in August. Federations outside Europe, including the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and several Caribbean nations, have also rejected a further term. While the German football federation DFB declined to sign a formal letter of endorsement, French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo urged members to organize an alternative leadership ticket.

“Confidence in the FIFA president has been broken. Our task is now to bring about a program and a candidate, and then ensure their victory.”

Global alignment ahead of the Rabat congress

Despite widespread European and North American opposition, Infantino retains backing from several continental power centers. The African continental federation maintains unified support for his leadership, while Argentina and co-host Mexico have expressed continued confidence. The Asian Football Confederation remains split, with countries such as Qatar, Indonesia, and Kuwait supporting the incumbent while the regional confederation withheld official backing. Latvian federation president Vadims Lyashenko also pledged continued support, while Infantino visited Tashkent to discuss the Under-20 World Cup with Uzbek officials. Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, plans to seek a final four-year mandate at the 77th FIFA Congress in Rabat in March 2027, where no challenger has formally entered the election.