Key Takeaways:
- On Thursday, CAF’s Executive Committee unanimously reaffirmed its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino following the failure of his World Cup commercial rights plan
- UEFA announced on the same day its commitment to boycott future World Cups at all levels as long as Infantino remains in office
- CAF, comprising 54 member associations, represents a powerful voting bloc for Infantino’s re-election bid in March next year
CAF Reconfirms Support for Infantino
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) declared unanimous backing for FIFA President Gianni Infantino after his plan to sell stakes in the World Cup was met with widespread condemnation. CAF’s Executive Committee issued a statement on Thursday, reiterating its faith in Infantino as he stands for re-election in March next year. This show of unity came on the heels of UEFA’s announcement pledging to boycott all future editions of the World Cup at any level while Infantino remains in charge of the global football organisation.
The CAF Executive Committee (“EXCO”) unanimously endorses the “Joint Update” by the FIFA President and Secretary General on the FIFA Forward Enterprise and will continue to focus on making African Football amongst the best in the world and adhering to governance and transparency…
— CAF Media (@CAF_Media) August 6, 2026
CAF’s Influence in FIFA and Continued Backing
With 54 member associations under its umbrella, CAF constitutes a sizeable and influential voting bloc among FIFA’s total of 211 members. Since Gianni Infantino first assumed the presidency in 2016, the African contingent has generally supported his leadership. In its recent statement, CAF not only underscored its continued endorsement but also acknowledged Infantino’s contributions to African football over recent years.
Calls for Governance and Transparency in Football
CAF President Patrice Motsepe welcomed FIFA’s commitment to reassess the decision-making procedures tied to the controversial attempt to sell a portion of the World Cup’s commercial rights. Motsepe also stated CAF’s approval of the “Joint Update” provided by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom. However, he emphasised the importance of good governance and transparency, asserting CAF’s ongoing resolve to work in partnership with FIFA, other confederations, member associations, and stakeholders to maintain global best practices and foster football’s development worldwide.
Infantino Receives Further Endorsements from African Football Leaders
Faced with criticism over the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, Infantino has nonetheless drawn widespread support from within Africa. Earlier this week, five significant figures in African football publicly voiced their backing of the FIFA president and expressed approval of the decision to withdraw the contentious plan to monetise future World Cup revenues. These individuals include CAF Vice President Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco), FIFA Council members Hany Abo Rida (Egypt), Hamidou Djibrilla (Niger), Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania), as well as Veron Mosengo-Omba, president of the football federation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and former CAF General Secretary.
Motsepe’s Personal Endorsement
In the days preceding the public backlash against the World Cup commercialisation proposal, Patrice Motsepe spoke strongly in favour of Gianni Infantino, remarking: “I personally support Gianni Infantino. He’s not just a good friend. He’s a loyal friend. He’s loyal to Africa. I come from a background where when people have been loyal to you, you never stab them in the back.”
