Full Breakdown
AFC Endorses Infantino for Fourth FIFA Term
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On October 23, 2026, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced its endorsement of Gianni Infantino for a fourth term as FIFA president during an extraordinary congress in Tokyo. AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa embraced Infantino onstage and declared the confederation’s “full commitment” to his re-election bid. The FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March 2027, and the nomination deadline of November 18 remains open with no challenger filed to date.
Background & Context
Two months earlier, the AFC had joined UEFA and CONCACAF in issuing an open letter that labeled Infantino’s proposed $4.2 billion “FIFA Forward Enterprise” plan—a scheme to sell stakes in World Cup and other premier tournaments to private investors—as a “fundamental breach of trust.” The plan was subsequently abandoned after widespread opposition. Infantino later apologized to FIFA’s 37-member ruling council in Zurich for “mistakes” made while developing the proposal.
Data & Statistics
- Member composition: AFC comprises 47 national associations; FIFA has 211 member federations.
- Funding model: Infantino highlighted a FIFA-council-approved model that would raise contributions to member associations from $10 million to $25 million. He also noted that under his leadership each association previously received $1 million every four years, a figure set to increase to $25 million per association beginning early 2027.
Official Statements & Responses
He urged the continent to “move forward together” and framed the endorsement as a unified Asian family backing the incumbent.
He reiterated that increased financial assistance is central to FIFA’s development agenda.
Criticism & Opposition
European football’s governing body, UEFA, continues to oppose Infantino’s re-election, maintaining concerns over governance and the aborted commercial-rights plan. This opposition contrasts with the AFC’s newly declared support.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact scale of the upcoming funding increase: one set of statements cites a rise in overall contributions from $10 million to $25 million, while another specifies a per-association boost from $1 million every four years to $25 million per year starting 2027. Additionally, the precise number of AFC member associations that will follow Sheikh Salman’s endorsement remains unspecified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We affirm our full commitment to supporting you and your leadership as you seek a new mandate as the FIFA president,” — Sheikh Salman, AFC president
- “When you do many things, you do — hopefully, as we did, many good things — you do some mistakes as well,” — Gianni Infantino, critic
- “As one Asian family we are ready to move forward, united in your support, Gianni,” — Sheikh Salman, AFC president
- “Gianni I want to make it clear, Yes, we had some issues we spoke about in the past,” — Sheikh Salman, AFC president
- “Before I started as FIFA president, each of you – some of you are still [here] and still remember that time – each of you was receiving $1m every four years” — Gianni Infantino, critic
- “I feel great about the AFC’s support.” — Gianni Infantino, critic
What’s Next
The next steps in the FIFA presidential race include the November 18 nomination deadline and the March 2027 election, where the AFC’s 47 votes could prove decisive for Infantino’s bid for a fourth term.