Rabat – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has officially announced its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s bid for a fourth term, joining the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in backing his reelection.
AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa announced the decision during an extraordinary meeting held in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, October 23.
The announcement marks an important development in Infantino’s campaign to remain at the head of world football’s governing body, particularly after previous disagreements between FIFA and the Asian confederation.
According to Rueters, Sheikh Salman emphasized the importance of moving beyond past differences and strengthening cooperation between the two organizations.
“I think that we reaffirm our full commitment, of course, to supporting you and your leadership as you seek a new mandate as a FIFA president,” he said in comments directed at Infantino, who was present at the meeting.
“I want to make it clear: yes, we had some issues we spoke about in the past but let’s not relate the two things together,” he added.
“I think the last few days we met in Zurich. You made it clear that there was a true, a clear understanding between us.
“We need to move forward. And we believe football is strongest when we work together with a shared vision and a common purpose.
“As one Asian family we are ready to move forward, united in your support Gianni. I just want to make that clear today.” Sheikh Salman expressed.
The AFC president called for a renewed spirit of collaboration to serve the interests of international football and support its continued development.
The endorsement also signals an improvement in relations between FIFA and the AFC following tensions over several commercial projects and other initiatives.
Infantino gains support ahead of FIFA elections
The Asian confederation’s decision follows a similar endorsement from CAF, strengthening Infantino’s position ahead of the upcoming FIFA presidential election.
With the backing of two major continental football confederations, the FIFA president appears to be building significant institutional support for another term.
The presidential election is scheduled for March 2027, while the deadline for submitting candidacies is November 18, 2026.
According to the report, Infantino remains the leading candidate and the only person to have officially announced his intention to run for the position.
The Swiss-Italian football administrator has led FIFA since February 2016, when he succeeded Sepp Blatter following a period of major controversy surrounding the organization.
He secured reelection in 2019 and again in 2023, extending his leadership of the international football governing body.
During his presidency, FIFA has introduced several major changes, including the expansion of the men’s World Cup from 32 to 48 teams, beginning with the 2026 tournament.
The organization has also expanded its international club competitions, including the introduction of a 32-team FIFA Club World Cup.
Despite these developments, Infantino’s leadership has faced criticism over governance, commercial decisions, and the growing demands of the international football calendar.
The latest endorsements from the African and Asian confederations could further strengthen his position ahead of the election, although the final outcome will depend on the voting process.
With the candidacy deadline approaching, attention will now turn to whether another candidate emerges to challenge Infantino for the FIFA presidency.
