France withdraws support for Infantino in FIFA presidential election

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Paris, France: France has officially withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino’s candidacy in the FIFA presidential election set for March 2027, the French Football Federation announced Thursday. 

FFF president Philippe Diallo stated that trust in the incumbent leader had been betrayed and that FIFA's governance no longer aligns with the federation.

By unanimous member decision, France aligns with a growing coalition of European federations including Belgium, Italy, Scotland, Sweden, and Wales that have publicly pulled their backing. Diallo emphasized that as a founding member, France holds the legitimacy to speak out when FIFA goes off course.

The political fallout follows Infantino’s now-abandoned proposal to allow private investment into major tournaments like the World Cup. The plan was quickly shelved after fierce backlash and boycott threats from UEFA, which has since urged Infantino to resign.

Although Infantino is currently the sole candidate, CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani is widely seen as a potential challenger. The FFF will consult members before choosing a candidate for the election in Rabat, where Infantino still expects backing from Saudi Arabia, CAF, and CONMEBOL.