Argentina and Mexico join Africa in backing FIFA’s Infantino: What to know

What the report says

Argentina and Mexico have joined a widening bloc of football bodies backing FIFA president Gianni Infantino, adding to support already expressed by Africa’s confederation, according to Al Jazeera. The developments come amid a growing dispute inside world football over Infantino’s leadership and a now-withdrawn plan to sell commercial rights linked to the World Cup and other FIFA events.

Al Jazeera reported that the Mexican Football Federation and Argentina’s football association broke with the positions taken by their regional groups. Mexico said it supported Infantino’s leadership and would not recognise processes outside FIFA’s institutional framework, while Argentina’s association said it favoured continuing under FIFA’s direction despite acknowledging mistakes around the proposal. The article also noted that CONMEBOL had raised concerns about unilateral decision-making, while CAF unanimously endorsed Infantino after a meeting in Rabat.

Opposition remains significant. UEFA has stood by a boycott vote, Norway’s federation has called for Infantino to resign, and Asia’s confederation said it supported UEFA and CONCACAF while criticising FIFA’s handling of the plan. Al Jazeera said the split reflects a broader struggle over governance, consultation and authority in the sport, with the issue likely to remain central ahead of FIFA’s next Congress in Morocco in March. The article adds, by way of general context, that Infantino has already won two uncontested re-elections and is expected to face a challenge at the upcoming vote.