Infantino receives Asian backing in bid for FIFA presidential re-election

Gianni Infantino's campaign to remain at the helm of FIFA has received a significant lift with an explicit endorsement from the Asian Football Confederation. Speaking at the AFC congress in Tokyo, president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa said his confederation will back the Swiss official in his quest for a new mandate. The announcement comes just two months after both men were at the centre of a bitter row over a controversial World Cup plan.

• Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa announces Asia's backing for Infantino at the AFC congress in Tokyo.
• The endorsement marks a sharp U-turn: two months ago he signed a joint letter criticising the FIFA president over the FIFA Forward Enterprise project.
• Asia's support strengthens Infantino's position alongside his bases in Africa and South America ahead of a fourth and final term.
• No rival candidate has yet stepped forward and the deadline for nominations closes on 18 November.
• UEFA keeps up the pressure and wants FIFA to hand over key documents before 2 November.

What the Asian Football Confederation backing means for Infantino

Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa's announcement carries weight beyond the symbolic. Asia controls 46 votes in the presidential election to be held in Rabat in March, a substantial number that adds to the support Infantino already enjoys in Africa, with 54 votes, and South America, with 10. The AFC president delivered a clear message to the congress: the Asian confederation stands united and ready to move forward with Infantino in charge.

As one Asian family, we are ready to move forward, united in your support, Gianni.

The Bahraini official acknowledged that differences had existed between the two sides in the past, but urged delegates not to tie those issues to the decision to back the current president. He said he has spoken with many members across the continent and that their commitment to Infantino's project is firm.

From investment plan standoff to a 180-degree turn

The Asian endorsement stands in stark contrast to the position Sheikh Salman held only weeks ago. In September he signed a joint letter with the heads of UEFA and Concacaf that harshly criticised Infantino over his attempt to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. In that letter, the three confederations accused the FIFA president of breaking trust through deception and of showing a profound failure of judgement, qualities they said football leadership should not have.

Now, however, the Asian Football Confederation has decided to turn the page. Sheikh Salman argued in Tokyo that it is time to look ahead and to separate previous disagreements from the decision to support the re-election. The move weakens the rebellion that had been building from Europe and North America against the Swiss official.

The Rabat election: how votes are distributed and who could run

The balance of power for the March vote in Rabat leaves UEFA with 55 votes, followed by Africa with 54 and Asia with 46. Concacaf holds 35, Oceania 11 and Conmebol 10. The combined support of Africa, Asia and South America puts Infantino in a commanding position to secure a fourth term, which would also be his last under FIFA's current rules.

Despite Europe's discontent, no alternative candidate has yet emerged. The deadline to register a challenge against Infantino closes on 18 November, and both Concacaf president Victor Montagliani and UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin have already made clear they will not enter the race. The prospect of an uncontested re-election is therefore becoming increasingly likely.

Infantino's apology and the boost to development funding

Last weekend, during a meeting of the FIFA Council, Infantino apologised for his failed World Cup stake sale plan. Still, he did not offer a full explanation of how the proposal had been devised. He also proposed increasing the money handed out for football development around the world by $3.4 billion (£2.6 billion).

That financial gesture comes amid ongoing pressure from UEFA, which has demanded that FIFA release key documents and answer questions about its governance and decision-making by 2 November. The European push keeps the institutional tug-of-war alive even after the backing Infantino received in Asia.

Infantino's reaction to the Asian backing

Infantino paid tribute to Sheikh Salman during the Tokyo congress. He highlighted the work the Bahraini official has done at the helm of the AFC over the past thirteen years and expressed confidence that he will continue to perform well for the coming years, with FIFA's backing. Asked later about Sheikh Salman's comments, the president summed up his mood by saying he felt great about the AFC's support.

With this landscape, Infantino heads into the final stretch before the election in a stronger position. Asia's backing largely neutralises the critical front led by UEFA and leaves the Swiss official a step closer to securing a fourth term even before the voting process officially begins.