Infantino Turns to Africa as FIFA Election Battle Begins to Take Shape

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is stepping up his efforts to maintain strong support across Africa ahead of the 2027 FIFA presidential election, with L’Équipe reporting that the FIFA chief is looking to win over the continent's football authorities.

During a strategy meeting in Cape Verde involving representatives of Africa's 54 FIFA member associations, Infantino pledged to continue investing in African football and indicated that funding could increase further. Reuters reports that he highlighted FIFA's investment of more than $1 billion in African football through the FIFA Forward programme since 2016.

The timing is significant. Africa's 54 national associations represent more than a quarter of FIFA's 211 voting members, making the continent one of the largest voting blocs in the presidential election.

Infantino has already received substantial backing from African football. In August, the CAF Executive Committee unanimously reaffirmed its support for his presidency, while several African federation leaders have publicly pointed to his investment in the continent as a reason for their continued support.

The FIFA president announced in May that he would seek another mandate, with the election scheduled for 18 March 2027 in Rabat, Morocco.

For Infantino, Africa's importance extends beyond its numbers. FIFA says its Forward investment in Africa is expected to reach approximately $1.28 billion by the end of 2026, while the organisation has also expanded talent-development and grassroots initiatives across the continent.

With opposition growing in parts of Europe following the controversy surrounding Infantino's abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, his relationship with Africa could become an increasingly important feature of the approaching election campaign. European associations including France and Switzerland have withdrawn previous support for his re-election, while CAF's leadership has continued to back him.

The developing battle therefore places Africa firmly at the centre of FIFA's 2027 presidential contest, with 54 votes and billions of dollars in football-development investment forming a significant part of the political landscape.