Which countries are withdrawing support for Gianni Infantino and which are backing him ahead of the FIFA election

Gianni Infantino is facing one of the most difficult periods of his FIFA presidency. His botched plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors has triggered a wave of public statements against him and accelerated the withdrawal of support from several national federations. Italy is the latest to join that movement, reinforcing European pressure on the Swiss-Italian official ahead of the March 2027 election.

• Italy has officially withdrawn its backing for Infantino and aligned itself with UEFA and Aleksander Ceferin.
• England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Finland, Serbia, Sweden, Croatia, Albania and Greece have also withdrawn support.
• UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation have rejected the privatisation plan and demanded major governance changes.
• Infantino retains significant support in Africa, South America, the Gulf and several Asian and Caribbean federations.
• The Confederation of African Football has become the first confederation to back him unanimously.

Italy withdraws support for Infantino and widens the European split

The Italian Football Federation has confirmed that it is rescinding the endorsement it previously gave to Gianni Infantino for the next FIFA presidential election. The governing body said the decision is intended to clearly and transparently express its position in full agreement with UEFA and its president Aleksander Ceferin regarding recent initiatives promoted by the FIFA president on the governance and development of international competitions.

The Italian move is not isolated. It comes weeks after other European federations took similar steps and after UEFA insisted that its boycott of FIFA competitions remains in place even though the sale scheme was scrapped. The core argument is that there are no assurances that similar attempts to reshape football through the privatisation of the World Cup will never happen again.

Which federations have withdrawn support for Gianni Infantino

England and Wales were among the first to formalise their dissatisfaction by letter. The English FA kept its position even after Infantino sent an apology letter, pointing to deep concerns about the lack of process and governance surrounding the sale scheme. Wales said recent failures in leadership, values, communication and sound judgment mean Infantino has lost the confidence of its federation.

Scotland aligned itself with the collective position of UEFA's 55 member associations. Ireland rescinded the letter of support it had sent earlier in the year and raised concerns about transparency and the absence of meaningful consultation. Finland was the first to withdraw support, followed soon by Serbia, Sweden and Croatia. Albania and Greece have also formally communicated their rejection of the president's candidacy.

Beyond the British, Scandinavian and Mediterranean axis, the New Zealand federation decided to break ranks with the Oceania confederation and withdraw its support. Wellington called for an independent review to restore confidence in the institution, arguing that internal decisions and actions have fuelled division in international football.

UEFA, Concacaf and AFC: the confederations lined up against Infantino

UEFA remains in open confrontation with FIFA. Its boycott of competitions is still in force and the underlying demand is a guarantee that no operation similar to the World Cup privatisation will ever be attempted again. The French Football Federation, however, has indicated that its team will compete in next month's U20 Women's World Cup despite the continent-wide boycott.

In North America, Central America and the Caribbean, Concacaf described Infantino's plan as a unilateral and egregious act of poor governance. The confederation signed a joint statement with UEFA and the Asian Football Confederation aimed at opening the door to a dignified exit for the president. Concacaf president Victor Montagliani is already being discussed as a possible challenger in 2027.

The AFC also rejected the proposal and called for an urgent review of FIFA's governance. Its participation in the joint statement with European and North American bodies confirms its desire to see Infantino removed from power.

Critical federations that have not yet formally withdrawn their support

Germany and Denmark had already chosen not to endorse Infantino's re-election before the World Cup scandal erupted. Norway has been one of the most direct voices calling for his immediate resignation: president Lise Klaveness said trust in the leader is exhausted and there is no way back for him. The Dutch federation has also confirmed it no longer has confidence in his leadership, although it has not yet formalised the withdrawal.

Romania suspended all discussion of backing Infantino for a new term and described the sale proposal as a dangerous initiative to turn football into a private asset. Northern Ireland has expressed concerns and supports UEFA's position, but for now has not joined the official withdrawal of support as the Republic of Ireland has done.

Opposition beyond Europe: Jordan, Canada and Guyana

Jordan remains the only non-UEFA member association to publicly oppose Infantino. Its president, Prince Ali bin Hussein, accused FIFA of blackmail and claimed help was offered to the federation in exchange for endorsement. An eight-month delay in prize money heated the conflict further, and even though the money arrived two days after being made public, the Jordanian stance has not changed: no endorsement and no vote for the president.

Canadian prime minister Mark Carney said the situation should be fatal for Infantino and that he has no confidence in him. Despite that, Canada will not boycott FIFA competitions and will take part in the U20 Women's World Cup in Poland. In South America, the Guyana Football Federation broke away from its Conmebol-aligned neighbours and fully endorsed Concacaf's statement against the president.

Who still backs Gianni Infantino: CAF, Conmebol and Asian allies

The Confederation of African Football has become the first confederation to support Infantino unanimously. Its 54 member associations account for more than a quarter of FIFA's 211 members. President Patrice Motsepe defended cooperation with FIFA and pointed out that the embattled president's future can only be decided at the ballot box.

Conmebol expressed concern about repeated unilateral actions and welcomed the withdrawal of the plan, but as a long-time ally of Infantino it maintains its support for a third term. Argentina was the first South American member to publicly reaffirm its backing, followed by Paraguay. Mexico, to the north, broke with the stance of the United States and Canada and lined up with the FIFA president. Grenada and St Kitts and Nevis did the same in the Caribbean.

Support also comes from Asia and the Middle East. Qatar was the first federation to publicly back Infantino, later adding that it welcomed the withdrawal of the plan in the interest of unity. Sri Lanka, Kuwait and Lebanon, the country that granted the official citizenship last year, have all reiterated their confidence. Indonesia, the Philippines, Mongolia and Bhutan complete a group that, while diverse, gives the president a relevant floor of support.

What Infantino has at stake between now and the 2027 election

The scenario is unprecedented for a president who has governed FIFA with large majorities since 2016. The open fracture with three confederations and a growing number of European federations weakens his position ahead of March 2027. However, the weight of CAF, the backing of Conmebol and allies in Asia and the Gulf show that Infantino still has a solid base in key regions of world football.

The coming weeks will shape the crisis. Norway is expected to formalise its withdrawal of support in the coming days, and other federations that have shown doubts could follow the same path. Meanwhile, Infantino is trying to rebuild unity with a message focused on global football development and on his commitment not to repeat operations that put the integrity of the World Cup at risk.