The Caribbean Football Union today announced its support for Gianni Infantino in his bid to secure a new term as President of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) in the upcoming elections scheduled for next March. This announcement confirms the position of the Caribbean bloc, which includes 31 member countries, 25 of which have voting rights, and comes after two visits made by Infantino to the region aimed at rallying support, despite ongoing controversies surrounding his investment plans related to the World Cup.
Press reports revealed that the decision to support Infantino was made after intense consultations among the member associations within the Caribbean Union. The statement issued by the union emphasized its commitment to enhancing transparency, good governance, and substantive reforms within the global football system, affirming that this support stems from these principles. This move represents a significant voting weight in the FIFA presidential race.
The Caribbean Union was not the only body to announce support for Infantino; last month, the Asian Football Confederation, which represents 47 member associations, explicitly declared its backing for Infantino’s another term. These collective moves by continental associations highlight the scale of support enjoyed by the current FIFA president and put pressure on any potential other candidates.
These developments come ahead of the deadline for submitting FIFA presidential nominations, set for November 18. Despite this broad support, Kozo Tashima, a FIFA Council member who has worked alongside Infantino for 11 years, announced on Thursday his intention to run for the position, becoming the first clear challenger to Infantino in these anticipated elections, promising a strong and exciting competition.
