On Friday 23 October 2026 the AFC’s extraordinary congress in Tokyo saw its president, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, declare the confederation’s backing for Gianni Infantino’s next term as FIFA president. The announcement came after a two‑day session that had ended the day before without a clear stance on the Swiss president’s future.
Sheikh Salman said, "We affirm our full commitment to supporting you and your leadership as you seek a new mandate as the FIFA president." He added that most AFC members share his view, a sentiment he expressed as "My feeling is, I'm sure, the feeling of most of my members." The AFC has 47 member associations, a bloc that could be decisive in the March election.
The move reverses the AFC’s position from just over two months ago, when it joined UEFA and Concacaf in saying Infantino had committed a "fundamental breach of trust". The earlier criticism had been a major hurdle for the Swiss president, who had already faced opposition from England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland.
Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, apologised last week in Zurich to the 37‑member FIFA council for "mistakes" in a now‑scrapped $4.2 billion World Cup plan. He said, "With this support, we move on together," signalling a fresh start after the earlier fallout.
The AFC’s endorsement follows a period of split sentiment in Asia, with Qatar backing Infantino and Jordan opposing him. The confederation’s support could tip the balance in a vote that requires a simple majority of the 211 member associations. CAF and CONMEBOL have already endorsed him, while UEFA and Concacaf had withdrawn confidence.
The FIFA presidential election will take place at the FIFA Congress in Morocco in March. Candidates must declare against Infantino by 18 November. The AFC’s backing adds a significant weight to his campaign, especially as he has been campaigning for votes in Asia, including visits to Bhutan and Bangladesh.
With the AFC’s united support, Infantino has expressed readiness to move forward. "We are ready to move forward, united in support of FIFA President Gianni Infantino," Sheikh Salman said, underscoring the collective resolve of the Asian confederation.
