# Asian Football Confederation Backs FIFA President Infantino for Re-election

> The Asian Football Confederation reversed its stance to officially endorse FIFA President Gianni Infantino for re-election in March 2027, despite prior criticism of his commercial plans.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-26T11:39:45.203309Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/asian-football-confederation-backs-fifa-president-infantino-for-re-election-532e5758

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) officially endorsed FIFA President Gianni Infantino for re-election on October 23, 2026, during an extraordinary AFC Congress in Tokyo, Japan, a reversal of its previous opposition to Infantino's commercial proposals [1][4][10]. This decision comes just over two months after the AFC, along with other confederations, had vocally opposed Infantino’s controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme [1][4]. 

This endorsement provides significant backing for Infantino's campaign as the FIFA presidential election approaches in March 2027, giving him the support of AFC's 47 member associations against continued opposition from European football bodies [4][12][19].

## What the Records Show
The AFC's support for Gianni Infantino became official at its extraordinary congress in Tokyo [4][10]. Weeks prior, the AFC had criticized Infantino's plan to sell a 20% stake in a FIFA subsidiary for an estimated $4.2 billion to private investors [1]. This proposal, the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), aimed to bring private capital into FIFA’s commercial operations, including the World Cup [1]. In August 2026, the AFC, with UEFA and CONCACAF, publicly called this proposal a "fundamental breach of trust" [1][4][13].

Infantino withdrew the FFE plan by August 1, 2026, stating it had "created divisions" [1][20]. He apologized for "mistakes" in communication and consultation regarding the scheme [1][10]. Following this, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, President of the AFC, declared the confederation’s full commitment to Infantino's leadership, saying a "true understanding" had been reached despite past disagreements [3][4][11].

The AFC's endorsement carries weight due to its large number of member associations, which control votes in the election [4][12]. Infantino's re-election efforts are also helped by FIFA's plans to increase financial contributions to member associations, from $10 million to $25 million [17][19].

## Timeline of Events
In August 2026, the AFC, UEFA, and CONCACAF criticized the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan, calling it a "fundamental breach of trust" [1][4][5]. By August 1, 2026, Infantino announced the FFE proposal would not proceed, citing divisions it caused [1][20]. On October 23, 2026, AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa publicly endorsed Infantino for re-election during an extraordinary AFC Congress in Tokyo [1][4][10]. The deadline for potential rival candidates to submit nominations for the FIFA presidential election is November 18, 2026, with the election scheduled for March 2027 [1][6].

## What Changed
The AFC's position changed from strong opposition to full endorsement of Gianni Infantino [1][4]. The confederation had previously called for Infantino's resignation over the FFE plan [8][17]. Now, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa explicitly stated the AFC's "full commitment" to supporting Infantino's bid for a new mandate [4][10]. This shift boosts Infantino's re-election campaign, particularly with the voting power of the AFC's 47 member associations [4][12]. The controversial FFE plan, which caused the initial conflict, has been withdrawn [1][20].

## What the Subject Has Said Publicly
FIFA President Gianni Infantino publicly acknowledged that the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan "created divisions" and apologized for "mistakes" in the communication and consultation process [1][10][20]. He stated his purpose has always been "to unite and improve" [20]. During the Tokyo congress, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, addressing Infantino, said, "We affirm our full commitment to supporting you and your leadership as you seek a new mandate as the Fifa president" [4][10]. Sheikh Salman also indicated that he and Infantino had reached a "true, a clear understanding between us" during recent meetings in Zurich [11].

## What We Could Not Confirm
The specific details of the discussions and concessions that led to the "true understanding" between the AFC and FIFA President Gianni Infantino could not be confirmed from the available records [11]. While Sheikh Salman indicated that "most" of the AFC's member associations would follow his direction, the precise number of votes Infantino can expect from the AFC bloc is not definitively known [15][19].

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