Infantino loses Swiss backing as UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF back him

Gianni Infantino has lost the backing of the Swiss Football Association for his 2027 FIFA re‑election, even as UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF have signalled their dissenting support. The Swiss board met on 25 September, five days before issuing a statement that cited the failed FIFA Forward Enterprise plan and the Balogun case as reasons for the withdrawal.

Swiss federation withdraws support

Peter Knabel, president of the Swiss Football Association, explained that recent events raise serious questions about leadership, governance, transparency and decision‑making at FIFA. "As these issues have not been addressed convincingly, we cannot justify continued support for Gianni Infantino's candidacy," he said. The association also noted that it had previously pledged support in June 2026, making the reversal a notable blow to Infantino’s home base.

The statement also referenced the reversal of Folarin Balogun’s suspension during the World Cup, where the United States striker was cleared to play against Belgium after intervention from the White House and former President Donald Trump.

FIFA's contested projects

Infantino’s administration introduced FIFA Forward Enterprise after the World Cup, proposing to sell a 20 percent stake in a subsidiary to raise up to R$ 21.5 billion. Massive opposition led to the plan being shelved and the project archived.

Despite the setback, Infantino has shown openness to dialogue with member associations, a stance referenced in the Swiss communiqué.

Continental confederations' positions

UEFA, together with the leaders of AFC and CONCACAF, has continued its offensive against Infantino, suggesting that FIFA’s reserves be redirected to associations. Infantino welcomed the idea and scheduled a discussion for 15 October at the FIFA Council meeting.

Even as the Swiss body withdraws its vote, Infantino enjoys backing from several nations and confederations, including Azerbaijan, Latvia, Uzbekistan, Jamaica, as well as unanimous support from CONMEBOL and CAF.

Confederations have no voting rights in the FIFA election; only the 211 national associations vote, each with equal weight. If two candidates stand, a simple majority of 106 valid votes is required; with three or more, two‑thirds of 140 votes is needed in the first round. Candidate registrations close on 28 November, and the election will be held on 28 March in Rabat, Morocco, where Infantino remains the sole declared candidate.