AFC Endorses Infantino for FIFA Presidency

The AFC's extraordinary congress in Tokyo on Friday solidified its endorsement of Gianni Infantino. This move comes just weeks before the November 18 deadline for presidential challengers.

Infantino pledges a significant financial increase for FIFA member associations under his continued leadership. Each association will receive $25 million US dollars every four years, a sharp rise from the previous $1 million allocation.

Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, head of the AFC, declared, "As one Asian family we are ready to move forward, united in your support, Gianni." He stated most AFC members would follow this endorsement.

Infantino apologized for errors in assembling a scrapped $4.2 billion plan to sell World Cup rights. He acknowledged, "When you do many things, you do — hopefully, as we did, many good things — you do some mistakes as well."

UEFA demands FIFA release key documents and answer questions about its governance by November 2. Despite this, no one has yet filed to run against Infantino for the FIFA presidency.

Infantino has traveled globally, seeking votes in exchange for more financial support for both small and large football countries. Indications showed he already edged toward a simple majority of the 211 FIFA member federations even before the AFC endorsement.

Even if not all AFC members follow Sheikh Salman's direction, those votes could prove crucial. They guarantee another mandate for Infantino.