The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has thrown its weight behind Gianni Infantino’s bid for another term as FIFA president, weeks after joining other regional bodies in condemning his proposal to open major football competitions to private investors.
Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, AFC president, declared the confederation’s support on Friday during an extraordinary congress in Tokyo, Japan, attended by Infantino.
The endorsement represents a major boost for the 56-year-old Swiss, who has faced mounting criticism over his leadership and the failed plan to attract private investment into FIFA’s premium competitions, including the World Cup.
In August, the AFC joined UEFA, European football’s governing body, and CONCACAF, which oversees football in North and Central America and the Caribbean, in expressing strong opposition to the initiative.
The controversy fuelled calls for Infantino to step down and prompted some football associations to withdraw their support for his re-election campaign.
However, Sheikh Salman said the Asian body remained committed to backing Infantino as he seeks a new mandate in the election scheduled for March.
“I think that we reaffirm our full commitment, of course, to supporting you and your leadership as you seek a new mandate as FIFA president,” Sheikh Salman said.
He noted that he had spoken with several members across Asia and maintained that the region’s support for the FIFA chief was clear.
The AFC president also acknowledged previous disagreements between the confederation and Infantino but urged stakeholders to move beyond their differences.
“Gianni, yes, we had some issues we spoke about in the past. But let’s not relate the two things together. We need to move forward… football is strongest when we work together,” he said.
Infantino, who has been FIFA president since 2016, apologised last week over the unsuccessful private investment project.
Reacting to the endorsement, he praised Asia’s contribution to the growth of international football and described the continent as an important force in making the sport more inclusive.
“We have seen the transformation that Asian football, and as a consequence world football, has gone through in these years,” he said.
“It has become truly global. It has become for everyone, and this would not have been possible without a strong, a united, a committed Asia. And for this, I thank you very much.”
The deadline for candidates to formally declare their interest in the FIFA presidency is November 18. No heavyweight contender has so far announced a challenge to Infantino, despite growing opposition to some aspects of his leadership.
Several leading European national associations have distanced themselves from the FIFA president, with his close relationship with United States President Donald Trump among the issues attracting criticism.
The AFC’s latest position contrasts with the stance it adopted two months ago alongside UEFA and CONCACAF, when the three bodies issued a joint letter questioning the principles guiding football leadership.
In the letter, the confederations insisted that football “belongs to no individual” and stressed that authority should be exercised in the collective interest of the sport.
“Leadership in football is not a possession. It is not about holding — or demanding — power to be held,” they wrote.
They further argued that leaders who broke trust through deception or placed themselves above the organisations they represented had failed in their responsibilities.
Despite the earlier criticism, Infantino has retained significant support across other regions. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has endorsed his bid, while South America’s CONMEBOL remains largely supportive.
The positions of the continental confederations do not necessarily translate into unanimous voting by their member associations, and some officials within CONCACAF have also backed Infantino.
In Asia, Kuwait and Qatar, which hosted the 2022 World Cup, had previously expressed support for him. Saudi Arabia, host of the 2034 tournament, has also backed his leadership.
The AFC’s endorsement adds to Infantino’s support base ahead of the March election, although national football associations will ultimately determine whether he secures another term at the helm of world football.
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