The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), CONCACAF, and UEFA have launched a coordinated boycott of FIFA's governance structures, escalating their campaign to remove President Gianni Infantino. The three continental bodies are withholding participation in FIFA committees and meetings, according to sources familiar with the move.
Why the confederations are acting
The boycott stems from long-standing grievances over Infantino's leadership style and what the confederations see as a lack of transparency and accountability in FIFA's decision-making. The three groups represent a majority of FIFA's member associations, giving their protest significant weight. They have not publicly detailed their specific demands, but the goal is clear: force Infantino out.
What the boycott means for FIFA
Without the cooperation of AFC, CONCACAF, and UEFA, FIFA's ability to pass reforms or make key decisions could be severely hampered. The confederations control a large bloc of votes in FIFA's Congress, which elects the president. Their boycott signals that Infantino's support base is eroding. However, Infantino still has backing from other confederations, notably CAF and CONMEBOL.
Infantino's tenure under fire
Infantino has faced criticism since taking office in 2016, including over the expansion of the World Cup and the handling of human rights issues. This boycott is the most direct challenge yet from major confederations. It comes ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by CONCACAF nations, and the 2030 centenary tournament co-hosted by UEFA and CONMEBOL.
The confederations have not set a deadline for their boycott, but the pressure on Infantino is mounting. Whether the campaign will succeed in ousting him before his term ends in 2027 is an open question.
