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The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has endorsed Gianni Infantino for another term as FIFA president, giving the incumbent a significant boost ahead of the March 2027 election.
AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa announced the confederation’s support at its extraordinary congress in Tokyo on Friday, October 23, despite the organisation having criticised Infantino just months earlier over a controversial proposal to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investors.
The AFC has 47 member associations, whose votes could play an important role in determining the next FIFA president. However, Sheikh Salman acknowledged that not every member association might follow his lead, saying he believed the majority supported Infantino.
“We affirm our full commitment to supporting you and your leadership as you seek a new mandate as the FIFA president,” Sheikh Salman said.
A Change of Position After Earlier Criticism
The endorsement marks a notable shift in the AFC’s position.
In August, the Asian confederation joined European football’s governing body, UEFA, and CONCACAF, which represents North and Central America and the Caribbean, in criticising Infantino over his proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative.
The plan, which was subsequently abandoned, sought to attract private investment into FIFA competitions and was reportedly valued at $4.2 billion. The confederations described Infantino’s handling of the proposal as a “fundamental breach of trust”.
Speaking in Tokyo, Sheikh Salman acknowledged that the two sides had experienced disagreements but said recent discussions had helped them move forward.
“Let’s not relate the two things together,” he said, referring to the previous dispute. He added that the focus should now be on cooperation and the future of football.
Infantino Acknowledges Mistakes
Infantino, who attended the congress, welcomed the support and referred to the importance of learning from past errors.
He had apologised to FIFA’s 37-member Council at a meeting in Zurich the previous week over mistakes made in handling the abandoned private-investment initiative.
During his address in Tokyo, Infantino also highlighted the financial support distributed to FIFA member associations under his leadership.
He said that associations previously received $1 million every four years and that the amount would rise to $25 million from January 1, 2027. The statement formed part of his case for the benefits of his administration’s funding programmes.
FIFA Election Scheduled for March 2027
Infantino has led FIFA since 2016 and is seeking a fourth term, which would extend his presidency until 2031 if he is re-elected.
The deadline for candidates to submit nominations is November 18, 2026. As of Friday, no challenger had formally filed a candidacy, although criticism of Infantino’s leadership has continued, particularly among sections of European football.
The AFC’s endorsement adds to the support Infantino has received from parts of international football, while questions over governance and the abandoned investment plan remain part of the debate surrounding his bid.
The election outcome remains undecided, and the level of support from individual member associations will become clearer as the nomination deadline approaches.
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