FIFA President Infantino Laughs Off Resignation Calls Amid Reelection Boost

Infantino tells FIFA critics to move on as reelection path clears

From resignation calls to reelection favourite, Gianni Infantino is riding a wave of renewed support as Asia's endorsement leaves his opponents without a challenger.

“I'm just coming back off Tokyo where the Asian Football Confederation has fully endorsed me...”

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino dismissed questions about resigning following the collapse of the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, insisting he retains broad backing from around the world.

Speaking three months after he was pressured to step down for scrapping the plan that would have brought private investment into a new body overseeing commercial rights for FIFA's biggest tournaments, Infantino said the tide has now turned in his favour.

His chances of securing reelection received a major lift on Friday when the leader of Asian football threw his weight behind a fourth term, with Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa declaring that Asia stands firmly united in support of Infantino.

Infantino brushed aside speculation about a potential resignation, telling the BBC with a laugh: “I was elected by 211 member associations from all over the world. I think what is important is that in an organisation like FIFA, there can be different views, different points of view,”

“But if we are serious about democracy, about the democratic process, about believing that everyone has the same vote and the same voice all over the world, that football belongs to everyone... then we need to respect as ⁠well the views of the vast, vast majority.

“I'm just coming back off Tokyo where the Asian Football Confederation has fully endorsed me. I was in Cape Verde where all African countries have endorsed me. I'm speaking to all associations everywhere in the world.“

The AFC had earlier aligned itself with UEFA in Europe and CONCACAF in North, Central America and the Caribbean to voice opposition to the FFE proposal.

However, with CONCACAF split and the AFC reversing its stance, Europe has been left increasingly isolated, highlighting the absence of any credible challenger for the FIFA presidency.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino insists he has the backing of the "vast, vast majority" of world football, as he laughed off questions about whether he had considered resigning over the World Cup sell-off debacle. https://t.co/9kNZpb7Pbu

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) October 24, 2026

Infantino is now pursuing a fourth term that would keep him in office until 2031, with prospective candidates required to submit their nominations by November 18.

“There are different points of view. It's not always easy to bring them all under one roof, but we need to respect and I do respect all opinions all views,” Infantino added.

“Then it will be up to the FIFA member ⁠associations to decide who they ⁠want as a president and ‌how they want FIFA to be run.”