Pressure on FIFA’s Infantino Grows as Concacaf Members Weigh Withdrawing Support
Football associations in the Americas are considering withdrawing endorsements of FIFA president Gianni Infantino as UEFA confirms it sent FIFA a preservation letter over an abandoned World Cup investment proposal.
In short
- Football associations in the Americas are considering withdrawing endorsements of FIFA president Gianni Infantino as UEFA confirms it sent FIFA a preservation letter over an abandoned World Cup investment proposal.
Pressure on FIFA president Gianni Infantino is widening beyond Europe, with football associations in North America, Central America and the Caribbean considering whether to withdraw endorsements for his re-election.
All 41 Concacaf member associations had submitted letters supporting Infantino before the World Cup, according to reporting published on Tuesday, August 4. Several members are now considering reversing that position after an emergency Concacaf meeting on Friday.
The discussions follow opposition led by UEFA to an abandoned proposal involving a private-equity investment in the World Cup. UEFA separately confirmed that it sent FIFA a preservation letter concerning the failed plan, a step intended to ensure relevant records are retained.
Finland was the first FIFA member association to publicly withdraw its endorsement last Thursday, followed by the Football Association of Wales on Monday. England’s Football Association has also withheld its backing, according to the Guardian.
The dispute has exposed divisions across world football. Some Asian Football Confederation members, including Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, have publicly supported Infantino, while many other associations have remained silent. Oceania has not adopted a collective position, although New Zealand Football has called for consultation and stressed the value of confederations acting together.
Concacaf members also face strategic considerations. The United States, Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica are jointly seeking the 2031 Women’s World Cup, with FIFA due to approve the host at an extraordinary meeting in November. Concacaf president Victor Montagliani has been discussed as a possible challenger to Infantino, but has not said he will run.
The developments do not yet amount to a formal Concacaf decision. They show, however, that concern over FIFA’s governance and the abandoned investment proposal has expanded across multiple regional confederations ahead of next year’s presidential election.
