Money explains what solidarity can’t. CAF’s 54 members and several individual Asian federations keep backing Gianni Infantino because FIFA’s development funding keeps their federations solvent, something UEFA’s wealthy members simply don’t need. The collapsed FIFA Forward Enterprise plan pushed Europe, North America, and the AFC’s leadership into open revolt, yet Africa and most of South America went the other way. That financial gap now decides whether Infantino survives the fallout, and it reveals how football’s real power actually works beneath all the outrage.

UEFA’s Revolt Ignited By Secret Dealings

FIFA blindsided its own members on July 28, 2026, nine days after the World Cup final, unveiling a plan to sell a 20 percent stake in a 20 billion-dollar subsidiary controlling the World Cup and Club World Cup. UEFA branded the scheme irresponsible and indefensible, built in total secrecy. All 55 UEFA members voted unanimously to boycott FIFA competitions within 48 hours.

Infantino scrapped the plan on July 31, but the damage was done. UEFA declared it had lost confidence in his leadership, citing secret schemes on fast-track timescales cooked up by faceless individuals of dubious benefit to the game. On August 10, UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC jointly published a letter accusing him of breaking trust through deception, and began exploring rival competitions outside FIFA’s framework.

Development Funding Shapes Confederation Loyalty

CAF’s backing traces directly to money. Since the FIFA Forward Programme launched in 2016, Infantino has channelled over a billion dollars into African football, reaching 1.06 billion dollars by September 2025 and a projected 1.28 billion by the end of 2026.

Each of FIFA’s 211 associations receives 8 million dollars a cycle, the entire operating budget for smaller federations across Africa and parts of Asia. UEFA’s 55 members sit inside leagues worth hundreds of billions of euros, and the Champions League alone paid clubs 2.47 billion euros in 2024-25. That gap drives the whole confederation split.

FIFA president Infantino Asia Africa support

CAF’s Executive Committee unanimously reconfirmed its backing, thanking him for years of support toward African football and endorsing his apology over the FFE handling. CAF’s 54 votes make up more than a quarter of FIFA’s electorate, a stance reinforced by Morocco’s Fouzi Lekjaa, Egypt’s Hany Abo Rida, and Niger’s Hamidou Djibrilla. CAF had already agreed to back him for the 2027-2031 term on April 29, 2026, before the FFE crisis erupted.

Here is where each confederation currently stands.

The AFC’s position is messier. It raised early concerns about FFE, then joined the August 10 letter condemning his conduct, yet several member associations have separately voiced personal support, exposing the gap between official statements and secret ballots. The 2016 election set this precedent: Sheikh Salman held public AFC and CAF backing yet won only 88 of an expected 100-plus votes.

Confederations Firmly Aligned With UEFA

UEFA’s 55 members remain the most unified bloc against Infantino, and some have quietly withdrawn pledges. Wales, Sweden, and Serbia rescinded prior endorsements, and England’s FA looks set to follow. The USA and Canada, two of the three 2026 World Cup co-hosts, backed the joint letter too, splitting them from Mexico, the third co-host, which still supports him.

The Numbers Behind A Contested Election

CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, the likely challenger, faces a November 18 candidacy deadline and could assemble up to 96 votes from UEFA and CONCACAF combined. He needs 106 for a simple majority of FIFA’s 211 associations, meaning at least ten votes must flip from confederations backing Infantino. That makes CAF’s 54-vote bloc the single most decisive factor in this fight.

Ousting him outright needs 43 associations to trigger a no-confidence vote, a threshold not yet reached as of August 2026. FIFA’s next presidential election is confirmed for March 18, 2027, at the 77th Congress in Rabat, and FIFA president Infantino Asia Africa support already puts him past the 106-vote line before a single AFC or CONCACAF association crosses over.

Can CAF alone save Infantino, or will individual defections change everything? Tell us your take in the comments.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which countries back Gianni Infantino as FIFA president?

CAF’s 54 African members back him unanimously, and so does most of CONMEBOL. Argentina, Paraguay, Ecuador, and Bolivia have all publicly confirmed their support, while Mexico backs him despite CONCACAF’s official opposition.

Why is UEFA opposing Gianni Infantino?

UEFA says it lost confidence in him over the FFE plan’s secrecy and rushed timeline. All 55 UEFA members voted unanimously within 48 hours to boycott FIFA competitions until binding assurances are given.

What has FIFA done to fund football development in Africa?

The Forward Programme has pushed over a billion dollars into African football since 2016. Investment reached 1.06 billion dollars by September 2025 and is projected to hit 1.28 billion dollars by the end of 2026.

Is there a vote of no confidence against Gianni Infantino?

No formal motion exists yet, since triggering one needs 43 member associations to act. The next real opportunity to remove him arrives at the March 18, 2027 election in Rabat, Morocco.

How much power does UEFA actually hold inside FIFA?

UEFA controls 55 of FIFA’s 211 votes, just over a quarter of the electorate. CAF’s 54 votes almost match that bloc entirely under FIFA’s one-association, one-vote system.