FIFA President Gianni Infantino faces mounting pressure from multiple directions as support for his leadership deepens a growing divide within world football. Argentina and Mexico have publicly declared their backing for Infantino, joining Africa’s unanimous endorsement announced earlier this week. The declarations come as the Swiss-Italian official continues to face criticism over a controversial proposal to sell commercial rights to World Cup events, which has since been abandoned.
Africa’s support carries particular weight, with the Confederation of African Football representing 54 member nations—the second-largest voting bloc in football after Europe’s UEFA. Combined with backing from Argentina’s football association and Mexico’s federation, Infantino has secured substantial support from multiple continents heading toward next year’s presidential election in Morocco. Both South American nations emphasized their commitment to institutional development and governance under FIFA’s current leadership.
However, Europe remains firmly opposed. UEFA confirmed it will boycott FIFA, while Norway’s football federation called for Infantino’s resignation, arguing he lacks the institutional trust needed to govern effectively. The contrasting positions reveal a fundamental split within the global football community, with entire continents and confederations taking opposing stances on the FIFA president’s future. The standoff will likely intensify as the March Congress approaches, where Infantino is expected to face his first serious challenge in his third term.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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