Mexico Backs FIFA Boss Infantino Despite CONCACAF Criticism

In a significant development, the Mexican Football Federation has publicly declared its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino. This move comes despite the regional football body CONCACAF expressing strong criticism of Infantino's leadership, particularly following his contentious proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. The Mexican federation, which is one of the co-hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has expressed confidence in Infantino's ability to lead and his efforts to strengthen football institutions globally. According to a statement released by the federation, 'The FMF supports president Infantino's leadership in continuing to promote the development of football through institutional strengthening.' The statement further emphasized that any decision to remove the FIFA president must follow the established electoral process, which involves all 211 member associations. The Mexican federation has thus aligned itself with the position of the South American football governing body Conmebol. This stance puts Mexico at odds with CONCACAF, which has criticized Infantino's approach to leadership, describing the abandoned investment proposal as a symptom of poor governance. CONCACAF stated that the proposal reflects 'a pattern of missteps and similar behaviour' and signifies 'a symptom of leadership that has stopped putting football first.' However, unlike UEFA, CONCACAF stopped short of declaring a loss of confidence in Infantino. UEFA has been a strong critic of the FIFA president, warning that European teams might consider boycotting the 2026 World Cup unless guarantees are provided that similar proposals will not be made again. Infantino continues to receive support from several regions, including the Confederation of African Football, which has offered unanimous backing 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.