Six Arab Nations Back FIFA Chief Infantino Amid Ouster Calls
Six Arab national football associations expressed their full support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Thursday, August 13, 2026, as the embattled governing body head fights to retain his position following the withdrawal of a controversial $20 billion private investment scheme for the World Cup, according to reporting by Associated Press and Reuters.
Arab Federations Form Block Supporting Infantino
The backing came via a joint statement from 2030 World Cup co-host Morocco, alongside Qatar, Egypt, Mauritania, Lebanon, and Sudan. Four of the six national leaders who signed the declaration also sit on the powerful FIFA Council. Among these influential council officials are Qatar Football Association President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Egyptian Football Association President Hany Abo Rida, Moroccan Football Federation President Fouzi Lekjaa, and Mauritanian Football Federation President Ahmed Yahya, while the roster of signatories is completed by Lebanese Football Association President Hashem Haidar and Sudan Football Association President Moatasem Gafar.
Published on August 13, 2026, the joint communique conveyed the leaders’ profound gratitude for Infantino’s continuous initiatives to promote football worldwide, broaden participation across every territory, and elevate the sport’s capacity to unite diverse populations and societies.
This regional alignment comes at a turbulent time for world soccer administration. Infantino has led FIFA since 2016 and previously appeared certain to win reelection unopposed at next year’s congress scheduled for Morocco. However, his tenure hit severe turbulence after he proposed carving off the commercial rights to the World Cup and selling a 20% stake to private equity investors.
The Investment Fallout and Global Pushback
The proposed private equity plan triggered an immediate uproar among international soccer officials. According to Associated Press, the plan was met with a furious backlash that forced Infantino to withdraw the $20 billion proposal. European governing body UEFA, alongside CONCACAF representing North, Central America and the Caribbean, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), issued a scathing open letter condemnation the plan as a fundamental breach of trust and labeling the maneuver as deception.
The revolt has translated into tangible political losses for the incumbent president ahead of the March election. On Thursday, August 13, 2026, the Football Association of Ireland announced it had formally withdrawn its support for Infantino’s reelection bid, citing significant concerns regarding governance, transparency, and a lack of meaningful consultation. English and Welsh soccer associations took similar steps the prior week, while Northern Ireland aligned itself with UEFA’s hardline stance.
Splits Within Regional Blocks and the Path to the March Vote
The public declaration from Qatar and Lebanon creates a notable schism within the Asian Football Confederation, given that the broader regional body had previously expressed deep disappointment over the investment scheme. Yet, the actions of individual national associations demonstrate that bloc voting is far from guaranteed. Each of FIFA’s 211 member associations holds a single vote in the presidential election, regardless of confederation-level stances.
FIFA has set a strict deadline of November 18, 2026, for potential challengers to officially enter the race. While three major confederations representing 136 of the 211 total votes have voiced fierce opposition, Infantino retains substantial backing. Alongside the newly announced Arab federation support, the Confederation of African Football has also maintained its backing for the Swiss administrator.
The coming months will test the limits of executive influence as member associations weigh governance reforms against established leadership alliances.
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