Mexico and Argentina publicly back Infantino, deepening split in world football
Mexico and Argentina publicly declared their support for Fifa president Gianni Infantino on Thursday, a move that has deepened divisions within world football amid a wider governance dispute. Mexico’s federation broke with the rest of Concacaf by endorsing Infantino, and the Argentina Football Association also issued a statement backing his leadership.
Concacaf has called for a thorough review of Fifa’s governance in the wake of the World Cup sell-off debacle and is supporting Uefa’s demands for meaningful change, although it has not yet threatened to boycott tournaments. The Mexican Football Federation (FMF), Concacaf’s second-biggest member after the United States, was unequivocal in its support for Infantino and publicly endorsed a Fifa statement released under his name on Wednesday that called for its institutional practices to be respected.
The FMF’s Thursday-night statement set out its position in full. "The Mexican Football Federation is convinced that football is its fundamental value and that its best defence lies in institutional integrity and respect for the governance and processes that safeguard it," the FMF said. "Therefore, the FMF will not recognise or approve any process convened outside of this institutional framework, and it embraces the call issued by President Infantino on August 5, 2026, to collectively continue developing football for the benefit of its 211 member associations. The FMF supports President Infantino’s leadership in continuing to promote the development of football through institutional strengthening."
The Argentina Football Association (AFA) followed Mexico’s lead by issuing its own supportive statement and praising Infantino’s decade of leadership. "In relation to the recent events that are public knowledge, we must recognise the decision of the administration to withdraw a project that generated, within the football family and from its inception, many more uncertainties than certainties," the AFA statement read. "That is why it is worth highlighting the acceptance of the errors made in this process and the apology expressed in the heartfelt message displayed to the 211 member associations of Fifa. Prioritising governance standards is a fundamental pillar for strengthening good relations between Fifa, its member associations and the confederations.
"In the same way, and as we have already expressed, you are leading a management that led to a profound transformation of Fifa, which opened the doors of the organisation to all member associations and confederations, so that with a frank and direct dialogue, we can, together, continue to promote football at all levels and disciplines. "From our point of view, this transformation was based on a model of transparent governance, respect for statutory structures and the monitoring of democratic procedures, essential principles for the football family to be united, firm and working to continue generating improvements in sports and institutions, which have an impact on a better quality of life for millions of human beings who practice our beloved sport. "Accordingly, with the upcoming Fifa Congress approaching, the association that we proudly preside over firmly believes and reaffirms that the way forward is to continue to work under your leadership, so that we can continue to develop better and even more inclusive football."
South America's Conmebol appears united behind Infantino, and there is growing speculation that Mexico would like to switch confederations to join Conmebol. The reports of a possible change of confederation were described in the coverage as an emerging subplot to the wider dispute.
A Fifa statement released under Infantino’s name on Wednesday called for its institutional practices to be respected, and the FMF explicitly endorsed that appeal. Concacaf’s demand for a comprehensive governance review has aligned it with Uefa on calls for meaningful change, even as the confederation stops short of the boycott threats issued by some in Europe.
Earlier on Thursday the Confederation of African Football had reaffirmed its support for Infantino, providing him with further allies as he fights to extend his 10-year reign. Those endorsements increase the number of federations publicly backing the Fifa president ahead of forthcoming governance events.
The endorsements from Mexico, Argentina and other confederations come ahead of the scheduled presidential election next March, and the AFA referenced the approaching Fifa Congress in its statement.