Who supports Gianni Infantino and how many votes he needs to win FIFA re-election in 2027

Gianni Infantino is fighting to keep his FIFA presidency as the March 2027 election draws closer. His attempt to sell World Cup stakes to private investors, later scrapped, has cost him significant support in Europe, where several federations have formally withdrawn their backing. Still, the Swiss-Italian has recovered ground: the Asian Football Confederation has reversed its position and now backs him, while allies in Africa, South America and the Caribbean keep his bid on track.

• Infantino needs 106 votes from the 211 member associations to secure a third term.
• UEFA and federations such as England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Italy have withdrawn their support.
• The Asian Football Confederation has changed its stance and now backs Infantino, with a public embrace from its president, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa.
• Argentina, Paraguay and Mexico are among the president's supporters in the Americas.
• Caf, the African governing body, was the first confederation to back Infantino unanimously.
• Jordan and New Zealand have broken with their respective confederations to reject his leadership.

Who opposes Infantino's re-election

UEFA remains firmly against Infantino's leadership. The European body threatened a boycott of FIFA competitions before the president backed down over the privatisation plan, and it still argues that his position is untenable. One of the central complaints is the lack of assurances that initiatives capable of disfiguring football will never be attempted again.

UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis has asked his FIFA counterpart Mattias Grafstrom for a series of documents covering several controversies involving the president. FIFA has until 2 November to answer those questions, which were put forward on behalf of the European members of its Council.

England and Wales were among the first federations to formally withdraw their endorsement of Infantino. The English FA stuck to its position even after the president sent a letter of apology, saying it remained deeply concerned by the lack of process and governance around the World Cup stake sale scheme.

Scotland aligned itself with UEFA's collective stance. Chief executive Ian Maxwell made clear that 55 nations are stronger than one voice and that the Scottish FA will not vote for Infantino. Ireland, Italy, Finland, Serbia, Sweden, Croatia, Albania and Greece have followed the same path, while Germany and Denmark never signed a letter of support in the first place.

Norway's push for resignation and other European positions

We decided that there is no trust in Infantino now. We have been worried consistently and there has been one more step in worrying direction every year. The trust is now gone for us, there is no way back for Infantino.

Norway has been one of the most vocal federations calling for the president to resign. Its official withdrawal letter has not yet been sent, but it is expected in the coming days. The Netherlands has not formalised the step either, although the Dutch federation has already confirmed it has lost confidence in Infantino's leadership.

Romania firmly rejected the sale proposal, calling it a dangerous initiative to turn football into a private asset, and has suspended talks over its endorsement. Northern Ireland continues to weigh its options and says it will engage through the proper governance structures.

Jordan and New Zealand: the first non-European rejections

Jordan became the first member association outside UEFA to publicly oppose Infantino. Prince Ali bin Hussein levelled accusations of blackmail against FIFA and insisted he will neither endorse nor vote for the president. His federation had waited eight months to receive prize money from the Arab Cup final in Qatar, a delay the prince linked to pressure to win his backing.

New Zealand, meanwhile, broke with Oceania's confederation and withdrew its endorsement. The federation believes that decisions within FIFA have contributed to a breakdown in trust and increased division in international football, and it is calling for an independent review.

Who backs Infantino in Africa, Asia and the Americas

Caf, the African governing body, became the first confederation to back Infantino unanimously. Its president, Patrice Motsepe, stressed that the under-fire leader's future must be decided through FIFA elections. Morocco and Egypt have also renewed their endorsement, while African representatives on the FIFA Council expressed support early on.

The Asian Football Confederation has completed the most significant turnaround. Two months after criticising Infantino over a breach of trust, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa shared a warm embrace with the president at the extraordinary congress in Tokyo and confirmed the AFC's backing for a new mandate.

Argentina became the first South American federation to speak out in support of Infantino, followed by Paraguay. Mexico broke with Concacaf's condemnation of the privatisation plan and aligned itself with the president. Grenada and Saint Kitts and Nevis also distanced themselves from their confederation's position to maintain their support for him.

Qatar, Lebanon, Indonesia and other Asian allies

Qatar was the first federation to publicly back Infantino, even though it welcomed the decision to scrap the investment plan. Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Lebanon, Indonesia, the Philippines, Mongolia and Bhutan have expressed similar views, calling for unity among confederations and for the global development of football.

Lebanon's endorsement carries a personal note: the country granted Infantino citizenship, and its federation president trusts the decisions he makes in the best interests of world football. Indonesia highlights the vision that development must not be centred on one region, while Bhutan values the withdrawal of the plan as a move to prioritise consensus over commerce.

How Infantino wins: the 106 votes that decide the election

FIFA's electoral system gives one vote to each of its 211 member associations. To win the presidency in the first round, a candidate needs an absolute majority: 106 votes. If no one reaches that number, further rounds and political bargaining follow until the election is settled.

With the African Confederation firmly behind him and the Asian Confederation now on board, Infantino commands a considerable voting base. The European opposition remains vocal, but the global balance of forces leaves the president in a strong position ahead of March 2027, provided he keeps the bloc of support he has built in recent months intact.

FAQ about Infantino's re-election