Sports
FIFA President Gianni Infantino faces divided support in global vote map
What happened
FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing a divided vote ahead of the upcoming election, with a newly released map showing significant opposition in Europe and North America, while receiving strong backing from Africa and Asia. The division reflects growing concerns over governance and commercial decisions under his leadership.
Key facts
A map released by FIFA shows Europe and North America as regions with significant opposition to Infantino's re-election.
Africa and Asia are depicted as strongholds of support for the current president.
The map highlights CONCACAF and parts of Europe as areas where Infantino faces the most resistance.
The upcoming election is scheduled for March 2027, with campaigning already underway.
FIFA's 211 member associations will cast votes to determine the next president.
Context
FIFA, the international governing body of football, holds presidential elections every four years. Gianni Infantino has been FIFA President since 2016, succeeding Sepp Blatter. FIFA's member associations are divided into six confederations: UEFA (Europe), CAF (Africa), AFC (Asia), CONCACAF (North & Central America and Caribbean), CONMEBOL (South America), and OFC (Oceania). Recent controversies have centered on commercial deals, human rights concerns, and governance reforms.