French Football Federation withdraws support for Gianni Infantino

The French Football Federation (FFF) has officially withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino’s re-election bid as FIFA president ahead of the elections scheduled for March 18, 2027. The decision was reached unanimously by the FFF executive committee on Thursday, September 10, 2026, marking a significant shift for an organization that had supported the Italian-Swiss official since his initial election in 2016.

FFF President Philippe Diallo stated that trust in the FIFA leadership has been fundamentally broken. The primary driver of this fracture was the failed 'FIFA Forward Enterprise' plan, which sought to sell a 20 percent stake in FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors. The project was abandoned on August 1, 2026, following intense opposition from regional football confederations. Diallo noted that while France had expressed support for Infantino in June when he was the sole candidate, the subsequent lack of transparency regarding the proposal made continued backing untenable.

Following the withdrawal of the French support, the governing body of world football faces increased pressure as it navigates the lead-up to the March 2027 elections. The FFF has signaled that its vision for the future of football governance no longer aligns with the current management strategies employed by Infantino.