Several member associations of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) are reportedly reconsidering their support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino amid growing dissent within international football governance. This shift comes as Concacaf nations respond to mounting criticism aligned with a broader European-led challenge against Infantino’s leadership.

Ahead of the ongoing World Cup finals, all 41 Concacaf members had submitted letters endorsing Infantino’s bid for re-election. However, recent developments have prompted many to rethink their stance. An emergency Concacaf meeting held last Friday revealed strong alignment with the European football federation UEFA, which has spearheaded calls for Infantino’s resignation. Multiple sources indicated that some Concacaf countries have pledged to withdraw their backing and may have already done so privately.

In Europe, Finland was the first national football association to publicly retract its endorsement last week, followed by the Football Association of Wales (FAW). Wales’ former international and UEFA vice-president Laura McAllister has openly advocated for a World Cup boycott in protest against FIFA’s governance. The FAW is also reported to have formally communicated its withdrawal of support to FIFA.

Despite this growing opposition, Concacaf faces internal challenges in fully dissociating from Infantino. Four of its members—United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica—are contenders to host the 2031 Women’s World Cup, a decision expected to be finalized by FIFA at a special general meeting in November. These bids could complicate these nations’ willingness to confront FIFA’s president publicly. The U.S. Soccer Federation is reportedly frustrated by Infantino, particularly over negative attention stemming from his interactions with former U.S. President Donald Trump related to the Folarin Balogun case, yet political considerations may deter open confrontation.

Concacaf’s president, Victor Montagliani, has emerged as a potential candidate to challenge Infantino in the presidential election scheduled for March next year. While Montagliani has called for a comprehensive review of FIFA’s governance, he remains undecided about entering the race and has stated that his immediate focus is on securing re-election as Concacaf president, with elections also slated for 2024.

Contrastingly, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which had supported UEFA’s opposition to Infantino’s controversial World Cup commercial strategy, appears divided. Notably, financially influential members Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, along with smaller associations such as Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Kuwait, and Bhutan, have publicly affirmed their support for Infantino. Saudi Arabia and most other AFC members have remained silent, prompting UEFA to seek further backing to mount a more formidable opposition. The extent to which the AFC dissenters can muster sufficient support for a contested election remains uncertain.

Within Oceania, New Zealand Football’s Andrew Pragnell acknowledged that FIFA’s abandoned private equity proposal had undermined confidence in the organization’s governance. Although Oceania, with its 11 members including New Zealand, has yet to adopt a unified position on Infantino’s leadership, Pragnell underscored the importance of regional unity to amplify influence. He recognized that Infantino’s tenure has brought benefits to many associations outside traditional power centers but lamented the manner in which the controversial proposal was handled, cautioning that it left a significant shadow over global football governance.

Pragnell indicated that Oceania would consult broadly with its members and other confederations before determining its stance, emphasizing that collective action within confederations strengthens their bargaining position.

As the countdown to FIFA’s extraordinary general meeting and presidential election continues, the debate over Infantino’s future is shaping into a critical test of football’s global governance amid regional divisions and strategic political calculations.