In Jeddah, with the FIFA presidency already casting a shadow towards 2027, Gianni Infantino received another significant show of backing from the Arab football world.
Arab federations back Infantino
The executive committee of the Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA) confirmed its support for the FIFA president after meeting on Thursday in Saudi Arabia.
UAFA, which brings together 22 national football associations, praised FIFA’s recent work to deepen cooperation with national, regional and continental bodies. Its representatives also said Infantino had helped reinforce unity across world football.
Support arrives before 2027 vote
- In August, six leaders from Arab football federations publicly supported Infantino, including representatives from Qatar and Morocco.
- That backing came while the Swiss official faced criticism over his conduct during the 2026 World Cup.
- He had also drawn scrutiny during the summer after proposing to sell stakes in FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors close to Donald Trump. That proposal has since been dropped.
- UAFA’s executive committee has now added a wider institutional endorsement ahead of FIFA’s presidential election in March 2027.
Infantino is seeking another term as FIFA president, and the latest declaration from the Arab associations gives his re-election campaign support from a bloc spanning 22 member federations.
