Politics · Malaysia Bureau
Asian Football Confederation throws weight behind Infantino's FIFA re-election bid
The Asian Football Confederation has reaffirmed its backing for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who is pursuing a fourth consecutive term leading world football's governing body through 2031.
LSN Malaysia ·
The AFC's endorsement came from confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, underscoring regional support for Infantino's continued leadership of FIFA.
Infantino, who has headed FIFA since 2016, is seeking to extend his tenure for another four-year cycle. The AFC's public backing represents significant support from one of FIFA's six continental confederations, which play a pivotal role in the organization's presidential elections.
The Swiss administrator has overseen multiple FIFA initiatives during his tenure, including the expansion of the FIFA Club World Cup and various reform programmes within the international football body. His candidacy for the presidency is subject to FIFA's electoral process, which typically involves approval from member federations and voting among the FIFA Congress.
The AFC's affirmation adds to Infantino's growing list of regional endorsements as he builds support ahead of the formal election proceedings. Regional confederations across Asia, Africa, Europe, North and Central America, and South America hold considerable sway in FIFA's presidential selection process.