Asian Football Confederation supports Gianni Infantino for 2027 FIFA presidential election

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), led by President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa, has officially announced its support for Gianni Infantino's reelection as FIFA president in the upcoming 2027 elections. The decision was formalized during an executive committee meeting held in Tokyo, where Sheikh Salman reaffirmed the confederation's confidence in the Swiss official despite recent controversies.

Infantino has faced significant criticism in recent months, largely stemming from his handling of events during the 2026 World Cup, including the controversial reversal of a red card issued to U.S. forward Folarin Balogun. Furthermore, a failed proposal to sell partial commercial rights of the World Cup to private investors drew heavy backlash. Notably, just two months ago, Sheikh Salman had joined leaders from UEFA and CONCACAF in criticizing that proposal. However, the AFC president has now stated that the organization intends to move past those disagreements to support Infantino's candidacy.

While the AFC has moved to back the incumbent, the global football landscape remains divided. UEFA and CONCACAF have previously expressed a desire for a change in FIFA's leadership. Future developments will likely depend on the stances of other regional confederations, such as CONMEBOL and CAF, as the campaign period for the 2027 election intensifies.