Overview
- At an extraordinary AFC congress in Tokyo on Friday, AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa pledged "uneingeschränkte Unterstützung" for Gianni Infantino and said members want to move forward.
- That public support joins earlier backing from 22 Arab associations and CAF's 54 national members, creating a broad bloc of votes across Asia, Africa and Arab members.
- Infantino came under heavy pressure this summer after a failed plan to let outside investors market World Cup rights, which prompted UEFA and CONCACAF to withdraw their confidence.
- Following an apology from Infantino, the FIFA Council approved a working group to study reforms at the proposal of the AFC chief, a step meant to address governance concerns without resolving them immediately.
- Opponents have until 18 November to nominate a candidate for the March 2027 FIFA Congress in Rabat, but UEFA and CONCACAF have not yet united behind a challenger, leaving the election outcome uncertain.