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AFC endorses Infantino for fourth FIFA term

By Drooid · Oct 23, 2026, 3:13 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

AFC Endorses Infantino

The Asian Football Confederation endorsed FIFA president Gianni Infantino for a fourth term.
AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa hugged Infantino and pledged full support.
The AFC’s 47 member associations could influence the March FIFA election.
Earlier, the AFC joined UEFA and CONCACAF in accusing Infantino of a breach of trust.
Infantino announced funding will rise to $25 million per year on Jan 1, up from $1 million every four years.

Summary

Infantino Promises Transparency

Gianni Infantino apologized at the FIFA Council and invited written questions for a follow-up meeting.
He pledged to answer the written queries at the next FIFA Council session, emphasizing transparency.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar publicly backed Infantino’s re-election during the AFC extraordinary congress.
Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, seeking a fourth AFC term, reaffirmed his support at the congress in Tokyo.

History

Historical Context

In May 2015 the U.S. Department of Justice indicted 14 FIFA officials, sparking arrests that forced Sepp Blatter to resign in December 2015. The scandal prompted a governance overhaul and the election of Gianni Infantino as president in February 2016. Today the Asian Football Confederation, led by Sheikh Salman, publicly backs Infantino’s agenda.

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AFC Endorses Infantino

The Asian Football Confederation endorsed FIFA president Gianni Infantino for a fourth term.
AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa hugged Infantino and pledged full support.
The AFC’s 47 member associations could influence the March FIFA election.
Earlier, the AFC joined UEFA and CONCACAF in accusing Infantino of a breach of trust.
Infantino announced funding will rise to $25 million per year on Jan 1, up from $1 million every four years.

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