Six Arab football federations have publicly declared their “full support” for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, a move that starkly contrasts with the growing global opposition to his controversial World Cup investment proposals. This endorsement comes from Morocco, Qatar, Egypt, Mauritania, Lebanon, and Sudan, with four of these six federation chiefs also holding seats on the influential FIFA Council. Their unified statement arrives just days after Infantino was compelled to withdraw a proposed $20 billion private investment plan for the World Cup, a retreat prompted by widespread condemnation from football officials worldwide.
The collective statement from these Arab federations unequivocally expresses “full support” for Infantino, reaffirming their confidence in his leadership and his consistent dedication to the advancement of football globally. They also lauded his initiatives aimed at broadening football opportunities across the world and conveyed their anticipation for continued collaboration with him.
This declaration highlights a deepening schism within the Asian football community. Notably, Qatar and Lebanon, both members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), have chosen to back Infantino despite the AFC itself having joined the chorus of disapproval against his World Cup proposals. The AFC, alongside UEFA and CONCACAF, had previously issued a strongly worded open letter, characterizing Infantino’s proposal as a “fundamental breach of trust” and accusing FIFA of engaging in “deception.” UEFA has even gone so far as to suggest that European football bodies might consider boycotting FIFA competitions and events if their concerns regarding the proposal remain unaddressed. The contrasting stances of Qatar and Lebanon are particularly significant, given that their national federation presidents have publicly endorsed Infantino, diverging from their continental body’s critical assessment of the FIFA president.
Among the signatories on Thursday, the four FIFA Council members include Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, president of the Qatar Football Association; Hany Abo Rida, president of the Egyptian Football Association; Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Moroccan Football Federation; and Ahmed Yahya, president of the Mauritanian Football Federation. Hashem Haidar of Lebanon and Moatasem Gafar of Sudan complete the list of backing federations. It’s also noteworthy that Morocco, which is set to co-host the 2030 World Cup, has previously featured among the federations whose support for Infantino was prominently showcased on his official Instagram account.
Despite this show of support from the Arab world, Infantino’s position continues to face escalating pressure. His investment proposal triggered significant backlash from FIFA’s member associations and continental confederations. The Football Association of Ireland recently announced its withdrawal of support for Infantino’s re-election, citing concerns regarding governance, transparency, and consultation processes. England and Wales had taken a similar stance the previous week, while Northern Ireland affirmed its alignment with UEFA’s position. Furthermore, New Zealand Football has also retracted its support for Infantino’s candidacy, advocating for an independent review of the FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme’s development. They contend that recent decisions have severely eroded trust within the global football community.
Infantino, who has served as FIFA president since 2016, was widely expected to secure another term unopposed in next year’s election, scheduled to be held in Morocco. However, FIFA has set November 18 as the deadline for potential challengers, thereby creating an opportunity for the mounting opposition to coalesce into a formal electoral challenge against his leadership.
