Gianni Infantino, President of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), has been invited by the African Football Confederation (CAF) to a two-day strategic conference as FIFA presidential elections approach next year. The elections are scheduled to take place in Rabat in March. Infantino may face a challenge before these elections. The African continent did not express any objection to the proposal and announced its support for Infantino. Africa's 54 votes represent a significant portion of the total 211 member federations that will vote if Infantino faces a competitor for the presidency.
CAF Summit in Cape Verde
The conference is scheduled to take place in Cape Verde next month, from October 7th to 8th. The African Football Confederation (CAF) sent a letter this week inviting the heads of its 54 member federations to the meeting. CAF President Patrice Motsepe had proposed the idea for this summit multiple times previously. Mr. Motsepe, a South African billionaire from the mining sector, is considered a close ally of Mr. Infantino. CAF's Executive Committee expressed its support for Mr. Infantino last month, with several African federations also announcing their backing. CAF stated it would send the conference agenda to member federations in due course. A review of the 2026 World Cup is also planned for October 9th, to which African national team coaches, led by former Arsenal coach Arsène Wenger, have been invited. The 56-year-old Swiss national, Gianni Infantino, has confirmed his candidacy for re-election.
Opposition Over Financial Proposals
Gianni Infantino is facing a challenge to his FIFA presidency following the failure of his proposal to sell up to 20 percent of FIFA competition rights, including the World Cup, to private investors. The opposition to Infantino's proposal led to calls for changing FIFA's top leadership, with UEFA and CONCACAF increasing pressure on him. The disagreement centers on his plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors led by Joshua Kushner.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin and CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani stated in a letter to Infantino that "FIFA's reserves could reach $6 billion after the World Cup, allowing for a one-time distribution of $2.1 billion to the 211 member federations." This proposed $10 million distribution is a response to Infantino's previous offer to grant each federation $20 million, a project that ultimately did not materialize. Čeferin and Montagliani confirmed that "The funding that FIFA pledged, amounting to $20 million for each federation until 2030, will continue in full." Arsène Wenger, who holds the position of FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development, is also involved in FIFA's strategic discussions.
UEFA and CONCACAF Pressure Mounts
Strong opposition to the proposal to sell FIFA rights emerged from football federations in Europe (UEFA), Asia, and North, Central America, and the Caribbean (CONCACAF). UEFA announced it is actively seeking a credible competitor to challenge Mr. Infantino. Amid escalating disagreements, UEFA and CONCACAF demanded an additional $10 million for each national federation from FIFA's financial reserves after the World Cup, as they seek to remove Mr. Infantino from the FIFA presidency before or during the March elections. Officials requested a full, independent financial analysis of FIFA's situation before the Council meeting scheduled for October 15 in Zurich.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin and CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani, prominent opponents of Mr. Infantino on the FIFA Council, confirmed that "The funding that FIFA pledged, amounting to $20 million for each federation until 2030, will continue in full." The upcoming Council meeting is the first since the July disclosure of a secret plan for private investment in World Cup tournaments. UEFA also asked courts in Manhattan and Florida for permission to obtain evidence from the Kushner investment company and FIFA. This action prepares for a potential criminal complaint in Switzerland regarding what UEFA considers financial mismanagement. FIFA has organized sessions in every continent to review tactical trends, refereeing, and logistics after each World Cup since the 2010 finals in South Africa.