According to the British newspaper The Telegraph, leaders from both the European Football Association (Uefa) and Concacaf (the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) are trying to gather enough support to oust Fifa President Gianni Infantino in a vote of no confidence, or to launch a challenger for the presidency, following the criticised World Cup plans.
However, there does not seem to be any consensus on this in Concacaf, which brings together 35 member associations. On Friday night, Swedish time, it was announced that the Mexican federation continues to support Infantino, who has been president of FIFA since 2016.
Argentina also supports
Mexico hosted the World Cup this summer, along with the United States and Canada. The North American World Cup was the first tournament Infantino was involved in selecting organisers for - it was his predecessor Sepp Blatter who selected the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The Argentine Football Association also expressed its full support for the Fifa boss in a press release.
"On behalf of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and its board, we turn to you, dear president, and through you to the FIFA board, to express our support for the work carried out over the last ten years," the association writes on its website .
The announcement comes just hours after the South American football federation Conmebol, of which AFA is a part, announced that it will not support a vote of no confidence against Infantino, but is open to alternative candidates for the presidency at next year's FIFA Congress.
Africa supports
AFA writes in its statement that the association was critical of the proposal to sell shares in, among other things, the World Cup, but highlights the apology that Fifa published on Thursday night as "sincere".
The vocal Confederation of African Football (Caf) announced shortly afterwards that the federation supports FIFA's statement, and that Infantino continues to have its support.
+ Uefa (Union of European Football Associations) - 55 FIFA members
Europe reacted strongly when Gianni Infantino's proposal became known last week and threatened to boycott World Cup tournaments. When the plans were scrapped, Uefa remained critical and stated that confidence in the Fifa boss had been exhausted. Before that, 50 of 55 European associations had sent letters of support for Infantino's re-election in March 2027, but countries such as England, Wales, the Netherlands and Finland have withdrawn their support. On Monday, Sweden, which has never sent a letter of support, announced that Infantino would not be backed in the future and that it would work with its Uefa colleagues to develop a counter-candidate.
+ Concacaf (North and Central America and the Caribbean) - 35 FIFA members
Like Uefa, it was strongly critical of the proposal - even after it was dropped. Concacaf President Victor Montagliani from Canada is one of the names mentioned as a potential challenger to Infantino.
+ CAF (Confederation of African Football Associations) - 54 FIFA members
Caf "stands behind" FIFA's apology and maintains its support for Gianni Infantino as president, the federation announced on Thursday.
+ AFC (Asian Football Confederation) - 46 FIFA members
Asia, which Australia has been a part of for several years, backed both Uefa and Concacaf when the wind blew the most. It has been critical of the fact that the proposal was developed without being discussed in, for example, the Fifa board, but has not criticised Infantino by name.
+ Conmebol (South American Football Confederation) - 10 FIFA members
Announced that it does not support a vote of no confidence, but is open to alternative candidates for the presidency at next year's FIFA Congress.
+ OFC (Oceania Football Confederation) - 11 FIFA members
Made a statement when the plan became known, but has been silent since. New Zealand - the strongest footballing nation in the federation - said the proposal could not be supported, but has not made a statement since.
