World football’s divide has widened with Argentina and Mexico joining Africa in backing FIFA President Gianni Infantino, following Africa’s unanimous support for the football governing body’s leader on Friday, August 7th, 2026.

Infantino faces significant backlash over a now-abandoned plan to sell commercial rights to the World Cup and other FIFA events. Despite this, the Mexican Football Federation (FMF), cohosts of the recently concluded 2026 World Cup, broke ranks with their regional confederation CONCACAF, which had called for a “comprehensive reckoning” with Infantino’s presidency.

In a statement, the FMF declared, “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.”

CAF President Patrice Motsepe, a longtime ally of Infantino, helped secure the backing of the entire African membership, strengthening Infantino’s position ahead of his bid for a fourth presidential term.

Meanwhile, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa criticized FIFA’s lack of consultation regarding the plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors, calling it “totally unacceptable” and stating it undermined the sport’s continental structures.

This growing divide highlights tensions within global football governance as FIFA navigates commercial pressures and leadership challenges.

Sources