Asian Football Confederation endorses Infantino for FIFA re-election in Tokyo U-turn

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has endorsed Gianni Infantino's bid for re-election as FIFA president, reversing the critical stance it took two months ago over his aborted plan to open the World Cup to private investors.

AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa gave his unequivocal backing during an extraordinary congress in Tokyo on Friday, October 23, 2026, with Infantino present. "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, according to accounts of the meeting. He added: "I think you've visited a lot of countries in Asia. I've spoken to a lot of members within this continent. I know your feeling and I think your commitment is clear as well. Your support to Gianni is very clear."

The endorsement marks a sharp turnaround. In August, the AFC joined European body UEFA and CONCACAF, which represents federations in North and Central America and the Caribbean, in condemning Infantino over his plan to open FIFA's premium competitions, such as the World Cup, to private investors. A joint letter declared that football "belongs to no individual" and warned that "when trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned."

Sheikh Salman acknowledged the past discord directly. "Gianni, yes, we had some issues we spoke about in the past," he said. "But let's not relate the two things together. We need to move forward... football is strongest when we work together." He also indicated that not every AFC member would necessarily follow the endorsement, saying: "My feeling is, I'm sure, the feeling of most of my members. And I've said that to you."

Infantino, who apologised last week for the failed private investment project, has headed FIFA since 2016 and is seeking a fourth and final term. In response to the AFC's backing, he said: "We have seen the transformation that Asian football, and as a consequence world football, has gone through in these years. 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 declare for the election is November 18, with the vote scheduled for March. No heavyweight candidate has so far put themselves forward to run against Infantino, despite outspoken condemnation, most notably from Europe. Many leading European national associations have withdrawn their support for him over controversies including his close relationship with US President Donald Trump.

Infantino has received the backing of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), while South American governing body CONMEBOL is largely supportive. The confederations do not vote as blocs, and there have been some supportive voices for Infantino from within CONCACAF. AFC members Kuwait and 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar had previously backed him, as did the football federation of Saudi Arabia, which will host the 2034 World Cup.

The AFC has 47 member associations. Even if not all members follow Sheikh Salman's direction, those votes could be key to guaranteeing another mandate for Infantino. Before the AFC endorsement, indications were that Infantino was edging toward a simple majority of the 211 FIFA member federations. An Associated Press tally cited in earlier reporting indicated that 87 of FIFA's 211 member associations had expressed support for Infantino, either individually or through statements issued by their regional confederations.

Asia has not been uniformly behind Infantino. Qatar backed him, while Jordan declared its opposition. The region's football calendar also remains active amid wider tensions: the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia is scheduled from January 7 to February 5, with 24 teams expected to compete in Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar despite security concerns linked to regional hostilities. Tournament organisers said they were monitoring developments and working with the AFC to ensure the competition could proceed as planned.