FIFA’s Infantino backed by six Arab federations including Qatar and Morocco

What the report says

Six Arab national football federations have publicly backed FIFA President Gianni Infantino, adding support at a moment when his leadership is under pressure after a proposed private investment plan for FIFA competitions was abandoned, Reuters reported via Al Jazeera. The joint statement came from the federations of Qatar, Morocco, Lebanon, Sudan, Egypt and Mauritania, with four of the signatories also serving on the FIFA Council.

According to the report, Infantino is seeking re-election next year and has faced calls to step down from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF after his plan to sell a minority stake in the commercial rights to the World Cup was withdrawn. The proposal had aimed to raise about $4.2bn, and was paired with a $20m grant for member associations in the next funding cycle, with the possibility of doubling that amount if they accepted the deal.

The Arab federations said they supported Infantino’s leadership and his efforts to develop football worldwide, while also emphasizing the role of Arab football in fostering cooperation across the region. The statement reflects broader alignment behind Infantino even as opposition remains significant: the three confederations that called on him to quit represent a large share of the FIFA electorate ahead of the presidential vote in March.

The developments matter because they highlight the politics surrounding FIFA’s governance and future commercial direction, including debate over private investment in the sport’s flagship tournament.