Argentina and Mexico side with Infantino as UEFA and Norway call for his resignation
Argentina and Mexico have publicly supported FIFA president Gianni Infantino, joining Africa’s recent unanimous endorsement, while UEFA and Norway’s football federation demand his resignation over a controversial commercial-rights proposal.
Argentina and Mexico announced their backing of FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Thursday, adding to Africa’s recent unanimous endorsement of the incumbent. The moves come as UEFA confirmed its boycott of FIFA and Norway’s football federation called for Infantino’s resignation following the fallout from a proposed sale of World Cup commercial rights.
The Mexican Football Federation (FMF) said it would not recognise any process outside FIFA’s institutional framework and affirmed its support for Infantino’s call to develop football for the benefit of all 211 member associations. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) praised FIFA’s work over the past decade, describing it as centred on global development and transparent governance, while acknowledging errors in the commercial-rights proposal.
Africa’s Confederation of African Football (CAF) voted unanimously to back Infantino, giving him the support of 54 member associations, the continent’s second-largest football body. CAF President Patrice Motsepe, a long-time ally of Infantino, said the backing strengthens the president ahead of the March congress in Morocco, where his leadership is expected to be challenged.
In contrast, UEFA reiterated its decision to boycott FIFA, and Norway’s football federation president Lise Klaveness told reporters that Infantino no longer has the confidence of the football community and should resign. "He does not have the institutional trust required to govern FIFA stably in the times we are in," Klaveness said.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) expressed solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF, condemning the lack of consultation over the commercial-rights plan and welcoming its withdrawal. Several AFC members, including Indonesia, Qatar, Kuwait, Sri Lanka and the Philippines, have voiced support for Infantino.
Other national associations, such as Croatia, England and Albania, have withdrawn their support, and the players’ union FIFPRO described the proposal as a profound abuse of presidential power. FIFA maintains that its actions complied with regulations and attributes the controversy to procedural and communication mistakes rather than governance breaches.