Six Arab Federations Back Gianni Infantino Amid $20B Investment Plan Revolt

Leaders from Morocco, Qatar, Egypt, Mauritania, Lebanon, and Sudan reaffirmed their confidence in Gianni Infantino following his withdrawn $20 billion proposal.

Six Arab football federations issued a formal statement of "full support" and "confidence" for FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Thursday, August 13, 2026. The declaration comes from the football associations of Morocco, Qatar, Egypt, Mauritania, Lebanon, and Sudan. Four of the signatories—Qatar Football Association president Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Egyptian Football Association president Hany Abo Rida, Moroccan Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa, and Mauritanian Football Federation president Ahmed Yahya—are active members of the FIFA council. Lebanese Football Association president Hashem Haidar and Sudan Football Association president Moatasem Gafar also signed the document.

This collective backing follows the collapse of Infantino's $20 billion private equity investment plan for the World Cup. The proposal was withdrawn after a significant backlash from global soccer officials. By aligning with Infantino, the federations of Qatar and Lebanon have positioned themselves against the stance of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The joint statement emphasized a commitment to the development of football worldwide and praised Infantino’s efforts to expand opportunities across all regions while enhancing the Arab contribution to the global game.

Governance Disputes and Federation Withdrawals

The rebellion against Infantino’s leadership intensified on Monday when UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC issued an open letter describing the $20 billion plan as a "fundamental breach of trust" and "deception." On Thursday, the Football Association of Ireland officially withdrew its support for Infantino’s reelection, citing concerns over governance, transparency, and a lack of consultation. This follows similar actions taken last week by the football federations of England and Wales. Northern Ireland has also declared its support for the opposition stance led by UEFA, which has previously warned of a potential boycott of all FIFA events.

CAF Leadership and Election Deadlines

Patrice Motsepe, a FIFA vice president and president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), defended the democratic process during an interview with Sky News on Thursday. Motsepe stated that opponents seeking to "take out" the president must utilize the ballot box rather than external pressure. He noted that the 211 member associations should decide the leadership through the established FIFA process during the upcoming elections. Infantino has held the presidency since 2016 and was previously expected to run unopposed in the March election scheduled to take place in Morocco.

Upcoming FIFA Election Milestones

FIFA has established a November 18 deadline for any challengers to formally come forward for the presidency. Despite the recent withdrawal of support from several European nations, Infantino’s official Instagram account has highlighted letters of support from various member federations, including the United Arab Emirates. The six Arab nations expressed their desire for continued close cooperation to ensure a prosperous future for world football. Morocco, one of the signatories, is already set to serve as a co-host for the 2030 World Cup.