Asian Football Confederation backs Infantino ahead of FIFA presidential election

The Asian Football Confederation has shifted its position in a way that leaves Gianni Infantino with a virtually clear path to extend his term at the head of FIFA. The backing expressed by its president, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, during the congress held in Japan completely changes the balance of power ahead of the vote set for March 18 in Rabat. With 47 federations on his side, the Asian bloc now joins the support he already held in Africa and South America, reducing the resistance to UEFA and CONCACAF.

• The AFC publicly backs Gianni Infantino for re-election on March 18 in Rabat.
• Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa moves from criticising a lack of transparency to giving majority support in just three months.
• Asia's 47 votes are decisive among FIFA's 211 federations.
• The opposition is now limited to UEFA and CONCACAF, with Mexico as the exception.
• November 18 is the deadline to submit alternative candidates.

Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa's U-turn at the Japan congress

The Bahraini sheikh's words during the Asian gathering have removed any doubt about the March vote. They are a long way from the criticism he himself directed at Infantino just three months ago and send a clear message that weakens those seeking an alternative. With Infantino himself present in the Japanese capital, Al Khalifa said that solidarity is the confederation's greatest strength and that they are ready to move forward united in support of the FIFA president.

As we look towards a brighter and more competitive future, our solidarity remains our greatest strength. We are ready to move forward, united in support of the FIFA president, Gianni Infantino.

What Asia's backing changes for Infantino's re-election

The Asian move came hours after FIFA confirmed that the final three matches of the 2026 Intercontinental Cup will be played in Qatar, a country that had distanced itself from its confederation's position from the start. That decision and Al Khalifa's speech completely reshuffle the electoral board. The check now points at Europe and Central and North America, with Mexico as the only exception.

Beaten by Infantino a decade ago in the election that took the Swiss to the presidency, Al Khalifa aligned himself with the critics just three months ago. It was when the top official unveiled his intention to sell a stake in FIFA's competitions to external investors through the FIFA Forward Enterprise project. First he accused him of a lack of transparency and consultation in an initiative of that scale, and then, together with UEFA and CONCACAF, he demanded an urgent review of the body's governance.

The FIFA Forward Enterprise project and Infantino's apology

The new scenario comes a week after Infantino apologised for the mistakes made in the management and communication of the FFE project. He did so during the first Council meeting held after the World Cup, on the 15th in Zurich. The Swiss said that the idea of selling a stake in FIFA's competitions to external investors has been permanently withdrawn and will not be presented again in any way.

He also called for unity and presented a programme to use part of the body's reserves in order to more than double the funding level planned for the 2027-2030 cycle. That figure amounts to 6.35 billion dollars, with an allocation of 25 million dollars for each federation, a proposal that will be subject to approval by the March congress. He also announced a working group with the presence of all confederations to examine the governance framework in detail.

UEFA and CONCACAF's common front ahead of the election

None of what Infantino has announced has been enough so far to convince UEFA, which has already filed legal claims. The seven European members of the FIFA Council have demanded written answers before November 2 on economic matters and possible conflicts of interest that could affect the president. Meanwhile, Infantino celebrates Asia joining the unconditional support he already held from Africa and South America.

With Asia now on Infantino's side, the option of an alternative candidate agreed among the critical confederations has become a pipe dream. Canadian Victor Montagliani, the CONCACAF president, was included as a possible alternative once Alexander Ceferin had been ruled out. The Slovenian will seek a third term at the helm of UEFA in April 2027 in Astana. The deadline to submit candidates for the FIFA presidency is November 18.

How many votes are at stake in the FIFA election

Asia's 47 votes will be decisive in an assembly bringing together FIFA's 211 federations. With the Asian bloc aligned, Infantino consolidates a very large majority that includes Africa and South America. Against him remain UEFA's 55 federations and CONCACAF's 41, which are now forced to redesign their strategy if they want to put up a fight in Rabat.