FIFA President Gianni Infantino to be re-elected for fourth consecutive term

FIFA President Gianni Infantino Receives Support for Re-Election Bid

In a significant development, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have pledged their support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s re-election bid in 2027. The two regional confederations made this announcement on Thursday, ahead of the upcoming FIFA Congress in Vancouver.

According to a statement from CAF, the organization has “unanimously agreed” to back Infantino if he decides to stand for re-election as FIFA President. Similarly, AFC President Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa stated that his organization will offer its continued and full support to Infantino as a candidate for the 2027-2031 term.

The African and Asian confederations collectively hold 101 votes in the upcoming presidential election, with Infantino already securing support from South American football’s governing body, CONMEBOL. FIFA statutes allow presidents to serve up to three terms, but Infantino is eligible to run for re-election next year due to a ruling that his initial term does not count towards the total.

Infantino has been president of FIFA since 2016 and was previously re-elected in 2019 and 2023. During his tenure, he has faced controversy over his close ties to United States President Donald Trump and criticism for initiatives such as expanding the World Cup and launching a revamped club competition. However, under Infantino’s leadership, FIFA has seen significant revenue growth, with this year’s World Cup expected to generate an estimated $13 billion.

FIFA has also increased funding distribution to its 211 member associations through its FIFA Forward Program, with a pledged $2.7 billion in the cycle from 2027 to 2030 – an eight-fold increase compared to 10 years ago.

Source: Al Jazeera