Revealed On 23 Oct 2026
The pinnacle of the Asian Soccer Confederation (AFC) says the physique is endorsing Gianni Infantino for an additional time period as FIFA president.
The AFC has 47 member confederations. Even when all of the members don’t comply with Friday’s route from Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, those who do could possibly be key to guaranteeing one other mandate for Infantino, who leads the governing physique of world soccer and is in search of a fourth time period.
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The FIFA election is in March. The deadline for candidates to file in opposition to Infantino is November 18, and to this point, none has filed.
Sheikh Salman, talking on the AFC’s extraordinary congress in Tokyo on Friday, embraced Infantino with a big hug in entrance of the membership as he delivered his endorsement.
“We affirm our full dedication to supporting you and your management as you search a brand new mandate because the FIFA president.” Sheikh Salman stated.
“You’ve visited a number of international locations in Asia. I’ve spoken to a number of members inside this continent. I do know your feeling, and I believe your dedication is obvious as nicely.”
Addressing his remarks to Infantino, Sheikh Salman indicated not each AFC member would associate with the endorsement however most will.
“My feeling is, I’m certain, the sensation of most of my members,” the AFC president stated. “And I’ve stated that to you.”
A sudden about-face by AFC
That is an abrupt turnaround for Sheikh Salman. Simply over two months in the past, the AFC joined the soccer governing our bodies of Europe and that of North and Central America in saying Infantino had dedicated a “elementary breach of belief”.
Infantino apologised final week in Zurich to FIFA’s 37-member ruling council, which he chairs, for “errors” he made in assembling a now-scrapped $4.2bn plan to promote a stake in FIFA occasions, together with the World Cup, to personal traders.
Sheikh Salman referenced the variations with Infantino in his speech however glossed over any particulars.
“Gianni, I need to make it clear: Sure, we had some points we spoke about prior to now,” Sheikh Salman stated. “However let’s not relate the 2 issues collectively. I believe the previous few days we met in Zurich, you made it clear that there’s a real understanding between us.”
“The previous I’m certain is a part of our historical past,” he added, “We’ve all, I’m certain, discovered vital classes from it. What issues now could be how we transfer ahead collectively. I believe everybody has questions, and I’m certain the solutions will likely be out there, whether or not to us in Asia or the remainder of the world. ”
Infantino’s electioneering across the globe
FIFA’s media workplace has been selling Infantino’s travels world wide, in search of votes in trade for thousands and thousands of extra {dollars} in monetary help for small and huge soccer international locations.
“Thanks for being right here,” Sheikh Salman stated to Infantino. “I do know you may have been in every single place. I don’t know the way you are able to do it. However I’m certain that you simply set a file for being in virtually each nation.”
Sheikh Salman then joked that, maybe, Infantino had a “clone”.
That drew fun. However the largest applause got here on the finish of his temporary tackle when he once more repeated his help for Infantino.
“As one Asian household, we’re prepared to maneuver ahead, united in your help, Gianni,” Sheikh Salman added. “I need to make that clear right now.”
Infantino accepts AFC’s help
Infantino took the rostrum after Sheikh Salman and stored his remarks gentle. However he did acknowledge some errors.
“If you do many issues, you do – hopefully, as we did, many good issues – you do some errors as nicely,” Infantino stated. “The vital, nonetheless, is, as you stated, to study, to study all the time from the expertise, from the errors, to apologise, to maneuver forward, to come back collectively, to unite, to construct for our future, in your future.”
The biggest applause got here as he talked about how, underneath his management, thousands and thousands extra are flowing to FIFA’s patronage community.
“Earlier than I began as FIFA president, every of you – a few of you’re nonetheless [here] and nonetheless keep in mind that time – every of you was receiving $1m each 4 years” Infantino stated. “As of the primary of January of subsequent 12 months, it is going to be $25m.”
