FIFA: Argentina and Mexico throw their support behind Gianni Infantino ahead of the 2027 election

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) and the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) have officially thrown their support behind Gianni Infantino. Following the backing of the 54 African federations, the incumbent president is consolidating an electoral bloc that could carry serious weight against the opposition led by parts of European football.

With eight months to go before the FIFA presidential election set for March 2027, Gianni Infantino continues to shore up his alliances. Recently weakened by the controversy surrounding the now-abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project, the head of world football's governing body is now receiving official support from two major football nations: world champions Argentina and Mexico, co-host of the 2026 World Cup.

These declarations come just hours after the unanimous support from the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), representing the continent's 54 federations. They confirm that, despite criticism, Gianni Infantino still commands significant backing within the global football family.

Argentina renews its confidence

In a letter addressed to the FIFA president, Argentine Football Association (AFA) president Claudio Tapia praised the reforms implemented under Infantino's leadership over nearly a decade.

The AFA believes FIFA has undergone a profound transformation thanks to governance that is more oriented towards member associations, and welcomed the decision to scrap the FIFA Forward Enterprise project after the widespread criticism it had sparked.

The Argentine federation also considers that the apologies made to all 211 member associations, along with the admission of mistakes, demonstrate a genuine commitment to upholding the principles of good governance.

Just months ahead of the elective Congress, the AFA is reaffirming its desire to see Gianni Infantino continue his mandate in order to "keep developing a better and even more inclusive football."

Mexico follows suit

A few hours later, the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) also made its support for the FIFA president official.

In its statement, the federation emphasized that Gianni Infantino's leadership remains essential for the continued development of world football through institutional strengthening. The FMF also stressed the importance of adhering to governance rules and made it clear that it would not recognize any process launched outside FIFA's statutory framework.

This support is especially significant given Mexico's strategic position within CONCACAF and its recent role, alongside the USA and Canada, as a co-host of the 2026 World Cup.

After Africa, an electoral bloc is taking shape

These new statements further fuel the momentum seen in Africa. Meeting in Rabat, the CAF Executive Committee recently gave its unanimous support to Gianni Infantino, applauding his commitment to the development of African football.

With the 54 African federations already on his side, and now joined by Argentina and Mexico, the outgoing president is steadily building a particularly influential electoral bloc ahead of the March 2027 election.

This mobilization could prove crucial at the next FIFA Congress, where each of the 211 member associations has a single vote.

A political battle heats up

These endorsements come as Gianni Infantino faces the toughest opposition of his tenure. The FIFA Forward Enterprise project, which aimed to open up the capital of a new FIFA commercial entity to private investors, sparked fierce resistance across the football world.

UEFA has emerged as one of the main opponents of the initiative, calling for reform of FIFA's governance model. Several European officials and the global players' union (FIFPRO) have also criticized the organization's operations, demanding more transparency and checks and balances.

In response, Gianni Infantino acknowledged procedural errors, scrapped the project for good, and pledged to overhaul governance mechanisms to restore trust.

As the March 2027 deadline draws closer, the campaign is taking on an increasingly political tone. On one side, a segment of European football is openly expressing its distrust of the incumbent president. On the other, Africa—now joined by Argentina and Mexico—is clearly determined to extend Gianni Infantino's tenure. This realignment of alliances could prove decisive when it comes time to vote.

Nouya M'toama

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Versatile journalist specializing in sports and political news, with extensive experience across radio, print and digital media platforms.

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