FIFA faces deepening split as confederations divide over Gianni Infantino

European football’s governing body UEFA is leading opposition to Gianni Infantino, after becoming the first confederation to withdraw its confidence in the FIFA president in a strongly worded statement.

Several national associations have also declared themselves against Infantino, including Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, Wales, Serbia, Sweden, Greece, Albania, England, Finland, Denmark, Croatia and Romania.

The Czech Republic initially backed Infantino but later withdrew its support.

UEFA has 55 affiliated national associations.

In South America, CONMEBOL has taken the opposite position and expressed its support for Infantino. Alejandro Dominguez, president of the South American football confederation, described him as a “leader of the transformation of football”.

The football associations of Argentina and Paraguay have also publicly backed the FIFA president.

CONMEBOL has 10 affiliated countries.

The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) subsequently joined UEFA in opposing Infantino. The organisation signed the same declaration as UEFA, making its position clear.

Mexico is the notable exception among its members, with the Mexican Football Federation supporting Infantino.

CONCACAF represents 40 countries.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is described as Infantino’s strongest supporter. In a statement, the African confederation clearly set out its “unwavering support” for the current FIFA president.

A number of African national associations also moved quickly to voice their backing individually. Those included Morocco, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, The Gambia, Mauritania, Niger and Comoros.

CAF has 56 affiliated countries.

Asia has also become divided. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) joined UEFA and CONCACAF in opposition to Infantino and sent him a forceful letter with the two other confederations, accusing him of a “breakdown of trust”.

However, several AFC members distanced themselves from that declaration and instead expressed support for Infantino. They were the Philippines, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Indonesia, Kuwait, Bhutan and Mongolia.

The AFC has 46 affiliated countries.

The final confederation yet to formally state its position is the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). It has not officially announced whether it supports or opposes Infantino.

New Zealand, the most represented nation in Atlantic football, has nevertheless declared itself against the FIFA president. The other associations in the confederation appear to support him.

OFC has 13 affiliated countries, 11 of which have voting rights.

The division leaves UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC aligned against Infantino, while CONMEBOL and CAF have publicly backed him. The OFC’s formal position remains unconfirmed, although the available national positions suggest it is largely supportive.

The breakdown highlights a sharp split within FIFA’s six continental confederations. Europe, North and Central America and Asia are on one side of the dispute, while South America and Africa are supporting Infantino, with Oceania yet to provide an official collective position.