FIFA President Gianni Infantino has received a significant boost to his re-election prospects after the Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA) formally announced its backing. This decision, made after a meeting of UAFA directors this week, is seen as weakening the coalition of European, North American, Caribbean, and Asian football bodies that have been pushing for Infantino's removal.
The support from UAFA means that the Asian Football Confederation can no longer rely on 12 of its members, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, to vote as a bloc for an alternative candidate in the March 2027 election. UAFA comprises 12 Asian nations and 10 African nations, and is led by Saudi Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal.
UAFA stated that its Board of Directors welcomed FIFA's recent steps to collaborate with national, regional, and continental football associations. They also reaffirmed their support for Infantino, crediting him with strengthening unity and expanding the game globally over the past decade.
Infantino has also secured support from Mexico and Caribbean nations within Concacaf, as well as the backing of the African (Caf), South American (Conmebol), and Oceania (OFC) confederations. This leaves Europe's UEFA as the sole continental confederation united in its opposition to Infantino's continued leadership. No rival candidate has yet emerged, with the declaration deadline set for mid-November.