CAF Reaffirms Support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino Amid Growing Global Pressure

CAIRO — The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unanimously reaffirmed its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, offering a significant political boost to the embattled football leader as he faces mounting international criticism ahead of next year's FIFA presidential election.

The decision was reached during a meeting of CAF's Executive Committee on Thursday, with the African governing body praising Infantino for his long-standing commitment to the development of football across the continent.

Infantino has come under intense scrutiny over FIFA's handling of a controversial proposal to open the FIFA World Cup to private investment. Although the proposal has since been shelved, the issue has triggered widespread criticism from football stakeholders, raising fresh concerns about governance, transparency, and decision-making within world football's governing body.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe welcomed Infantino's contributions to African football but stressed that the organization remains committed to the principles of good governance, accountability, and transparency.

"CAF appreciates the support President Infantino has consistently shown African football," the confederation said in a statement, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining strong governance standards within the global game.

CAF represents 54 of FIFA's 211 member associations, making it one of the most influential voting blocs in FIFA elections. African football associations have largely supported Infantino since he first assumed office in 2016, and Thursday's endorsement strengthens his position as he prepares to seek a fourth and final term as FIFA president in elections scheduled for March.

However, CAF's backing stands in sharp contrast to growing opposition from several other continental football organizations.

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has reiterated its lack of confidence in Infantino's leadership and maintained its threat to boycott FIFA competitions unless key governance concerns are addressed.

"UEFA made it abundantly clear in its statement on Saturday that it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino's presidency. That position holds," the European governing body said on Thursday.

Support for Infantino has also weakened in South America. In a strongly worded statement, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) expressed concern over what it described as repeated unilateral decisions taken without adequate consultation.

"The Council also unanimously expresses its concern regarding the repeated unilateral actions taken without resorting to dialogue or to the institutional mechanisms established to address situations of this nature," CONMEBOL said.

Meanwhile, the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), both of which have previously criticized Infantino's leadership, had not formally responded to CAF's latest endorsement at the time of publication.

Earlier, CONCACAF had called for "a comprehensive reckoning with this presidency," while its president, Victor Montagliani, has emerged as a potential challenger should the FIFA presidential race become contested.

With support increasingly divided among football's continental confederations, the lead-up to the March FIFA presidential election is expected to intensify, as debates over governance, transparency, and the future direction of world football continue to dominate the global football agenda.