The position was announced following a meeting of the SAFF Board of Directors, which welcomed FIFA’s withdrawal of the “FIFA Forward Enterprise” proposal, its leadership’s acknowledgement that mistakes had been made in handling the issue, and its commitment to reviewing procedures and strengthening governance and transparency.
Despite calling for these commitments to be implemented and for direct dialogue with continental and national associations, SAFF renewed its appreciation for Infantino’s work over nearly a decade and backed his efforts to restore unity within the global football community and continue developing the game worldwide.
This position carries greater significance than Yasser Al-Misehal’s announcement in April supporting Infantino’s candidacy for a new term until 2031. It comes after the crisis sparked by a proposal to allow private investors into FIFA’s commercial operations, which led to deep divisions and prompted several associations to withdraw their support for the current president.
The statement was also issued just three days before the Saudi federation’s elections on August 30, which Badr Al-Reziza will contest as the sole candidate to succeed Al-Misehal. The timing gives the endorsement an institutional character that goes beyond the outgoing president, making it likely that the new board will maintain the same position, particularly as Saudi Arabia intensifies its preparations to host the 2034 World Cup. Al-Reziza, however, has yet to announce a separate position.
Infantino’s support camp includes the Confederation of African Football, whose president Patrice Motsepe has confirmed the backing of Africa’s 54 associations, as well as Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Mauritania, Lebanon and Sudan. Argentina, Paraguay, Mexico and several Asian and Caribbean associations are also backing him.
UEFA, meanwhile, is leading an opposing camp that includes senior figures from the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF, headed by Aleksander Čeferin, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and Victor Montagliani. The associations of England, Wales, Ireland, Greece, Albania, Croatia, Serbia and New Zealand have also withdrawn their support or expressed a loss of confidence in Infantino, alongside Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands.
The FIFA presidential election is scheduled to take place in Morocco on March 18, 2027. A candidate would need 106 votes to win if the election is contested. No official challenger to Infantino has emerged so far, while Čeferin has ruled himself out. Montagliani and Sheikh Salman remain among the most prominent potential candidates, and Saudi Arabia’s formal endorsement gives its position greater influence within Asia and in the calculations surrounding the coming election.
