Gianni Infantino loses Wales FA support for FIFA vote

The Football Association of Wales withdrew support Monday for Gianni Infantino's bid for another term as FIFA president, saying he had lost its confidence after his failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup.

Wales became the first nation to publicly withdraw support for Infantino's candidature for the 2027-2031 term. The FIFA election is scheduled to be held in Rabat, Morocco, in March 2027.

Infantino had offered FIFA's 211 member associations $40 million each if they backed proposals for private investment in FIFA tournaments, including the men's and women's World Cups. He later scrapped the plan after opposition from three continental confederations.

“The Football Association of Wales hereby confirms its withdrawal of support for the candidature of Mr Gianni Infantino, for re-election as FIFA president for the 2027–2031 term,” the FAW said.

The FAW said “failures in good governance, processes, leadership, values, stakeholder management, communications and sound judgement” had led it to conclude that Infantino had lost its confidence. “Failing to put the best interests of football first is a failure we cannot accept,” it said.

AFP reported that the English FA is understood to have written to FIFA saying it no longer supports Infantino. English football's governing body said Saturday it “fully supported” UEFA's position after the European governing body said Infantino had lost its confidence.

CONCACAF, the North and Central American football body, called for a “comprehensive reckoning with” Infantino's leadership, while the Asian Football Confederation called for transparency.