Mexico breaks ranks with CONCACAF to back Infantino
August 7, 2026 10:24 am
FIFA: FIFA president Gianni Infantino
The Mexican Football Federation has broken ranks with regional football body CONCACAF to declare its support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino amid growing criticism of his leadership.
Mexico, one of the three co-hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, backed Infantino after CONCACAF called for a “comprehensive reckoning” of his presidency following his controversial proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
As reported by BBC Sport on Friday, in a statement released by the federation, the FMF expressed confidence in Infantino’s leadership and his efforts to strengthen football institutions globally.
“The FMF supports president Infantino’s leadership in continuing to promote the development of football through institutional strengthening,” the statement read.
The Mexican federation also aligned itself with the position of South American football governing body Conmebol, insisting that any move to remove the FIFA president must follow the organisation’s established electoral process involving all 211 member associations.
“The FMF will neither recognise nor approve any process convened outside of that institutional framework, and it joins the call made by president Infantino to collectively continue developing football for the benefit of the 211 member associations,” it added.
The decision puts Mexico at odds with CONCACAF, which criticised the FIFA president’s leadership approach and described the abandoned investment proposal as a sign of poor governance.
CONCACAF said the proposal was “a symptom of leadership that has stopped putting football first,” adding that the move followed “a pattern of missteps and similar behaviour.”
However, unlike European football’s governing body UEFA, CONCACAF stopped short of declaring that it had lost confidence in Infantino.
UEFA has been among the strongest critics of the FIFA president, warning that European teams could still consider boycotting the 2026 World Cup unless guarantees are provided that similar proposals will not be made again.
“Assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again,” UEFA said.
The English Football Association has withdrawn its support for Infantino, while other national associations, including Wales, Albania and Croatia, have also distanced themselves from the FIFA president.
Meanwhile, Infantino continues to receive backing from several regions, including the Confederation of African Football, which has offered unanimous support for his leadership.
The growing divide among football’s governing bodies has intensified debate over Infantino’s future as FIFA prepares for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada.
Gilbert Ekugbe is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience reporting on business and economic affairs. He covers markets, corporate developments, finance, and Nigeria’s broader economic landscape. His reporting is informed by extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism, helping readers understand complex business issues.
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