The latest wave of backing for FIFA president Gianni Infantino has come from the football federations of Mexico and Argentina, even as his controversial proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup commercial entity has been abandoned. On Wednesday night, Infantino received an unequivocal statement of "full support" from FIFA’s management board, despite the fact that his plan to privatise part of the tournament’s revenue stream was scrapped after intense backlash.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF), a long‑standing ally of Infantino, "unanimously reconfirmed" its endorsement of the president. In its statement the African body thanked him for his "contribution to African football" and echoed the language of FIFA’s own press release, signalling a coordinated front among several powerful constituencies. Argentina’s governing body, the AFA, also sent a letter to Infantino praising the work of FIFA over the past decade. The letter highlighted the organisation’s focus on global soccer development and on building an institutional framework that is "clear, stable and transparent".
Meanwhile, the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) broke with its regional confederation, CONCACAF, by publicly supporting Infantino, underscoring how the controversy has split traditional alliances. Nevertheless, the surge of endorsements has done little to quell the growing criticism aimed at the FIFA chief. Critics point out that if Infantino refuses to step down, his continued tenure will hinge on a simple numbers game: he needs at least 106 votes out of the 211 member associations that comprise FIFA to survive a potential no‑confidence motion.
An Emergency FIFA Congress can be called if 20 % of the associations – roughly 43 national federations – demand it. At such a congress, a vote of no confidence could be held, and if a majority of 106 votes is reached, Infantino would be forced out.
The distribution of votes among the six continental confederations is therefore crucial. UEFA, which controls nine of the 37 seats on the FIFA Council, must be confident that it can muster the required 106 votes before it agrees to trigger an emergency meeting; otherwise Infantino could survive any confidence vote and further consolidate his power. The Council itself can also convene an emergency session, offering another pathway to remove the president. Internally, Infantino’s reputation has suffered a series of blows.
Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s chief of global football development, publicly distanced himself from the failed plan, while Carlos Cordeiro – Infantino’s senior adviser – resigned on July 31, describing the proposal as a "bad deal" and "irresponsible". The dissent is not limited to individuals; institutional pressure is mounting, and there are signs that the president could be ousted from within FIFA’s own ranks. On a more positive note for Infantino, CAF’s executive committee again voted unanimously to back him, and CONMEBOL suggested that any decision about his future should wait until the next presidential election in March, effectively postponing immediate action against him.
Beyond national federations, the global players’ union FIFPRO has joined the chorus of opposition. In a strongly worded statement, FIFPRO condemned what it called an "abuse of presidential power" and expressed "deep concern" over FIFA’s handling of the situation. The union warned that attempts to label legitimate scrutiny as disloyalty would only deepen the crisis and called for comprehensive governance reforms at FIFA. FIFPRO represents more than 70,000 professional footballers through 70 national players’ unions, including the English and Scottish PFA, and has a historic legacy of defending players’ rights, most famously through the Bosman ruling in 1995.
The English FA also announced that it would withdraw its support for Infantino’s re‑election, with the next presidential vote scheduled for March 2027. England’s star defender Lucy Bronze, who plays for Chelsea, voiced strong support for UEFA’s boycott of FIFA competitions, arguing that protecting the integrity of the sport outweighs short‑term interests. She emphasized that the decision is about safeguarding the future of football for the next generation of boys and girls, not merely about personal or immediate concerns.
In Norway, federation president Lise Klaveness, a vocal critic of past World Cup host selections, called for Infantino’s resignation. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter publicly backed her call, adding weight to the growing coalition of leaders demanding change. UEFA was the first continental body to openly oppose Infantino’s proposals and the only one to threaten a full boycott of FIFA events.
Its statement outlined two non‑negotiable conditions: the withdrawal of any plans to sell off major competition rights, and firm assurances that similar attempts to commercialise and alter the structure of the sport will never recur. UEFA declared that these conditions have not been met, reaffirming its loss of confidence in Infantino’s leadership.
The upcoming FIFA U‑20 Women’s World Cup, where England will compete, will serve as a litmus test for UEFA’s boycott. If UEFA’s member associations refuse to participate, the tournament could be severely impacted, sending a clear message to FIFA about the seriousness of the dissent.
Despite the mounting pressure, Infantino has so far resisted calls to resign, apologising for the "mistakes" surrounding the failed stake‑sale plan. After a marathon crisis meeting in Morocco, FIFA’s management board reiterated its "full support" for the president, with Secretary‑General Mattias Grafström, who had previously described the plan as "sad and reproachable", later seen sharing a light moment with Infantino at a Women’s AFCON match in Rabat. The chronology of events from late July to early August illustrates the rapid escalation: FIFA announced the "FIFA Forward Enterprise" plan on July 28, UEFA launched a public attack the same day, and within days a cascade of resignations, statements, and boycott votes followed.
Notable moments include the resignation of Cordeiro, the UK Prime Minister’s condemnation of Infantino, the withdrawal of support by Wales, and the first public call for resignation by former star Luís Figo. As the dispute continues, the balance of power within world football hangs in the balance. Whether UEFA’s boycott, the collective pressure of national federations, and the unified voice of players’ unions can compel a change in leadership remains to be seen, but the episode has already highlighted deep fissures in FIFA’s governance and the growing demand for greater transparency and accountability in the sport’s global governing body.