The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) held a meeting today, Wednesday 29 April 2026, in Vancouver, Canada on the eve of the 76th FIFA Congress and the CAF Member Associations unanimously agreed to support Gianni Infantino to be re-elected as President of FIFA for the period 2027-2031.
The declaration of support, issued just hours before the FIFA Congress opened its doors in the Canadian city, sends an unambiguous message to the global football community: Africa is united behind the Swiss administrator who has led FIFA since 2016.
Africa did not unanimously back Gianni Infantino in his initial 2016 FIFA presidential election , contrary to his later, overwhelmingly unified support on the continent.
- While campaigning for his first term in February 2016, Infantino visited Rwanda and was informed by African officials that, despite personal liking, many did not plan to support him, as CAF (Confederation of African Football) was largely backing other candidates at the time.
- The Turning Point: Despite this initial lack of widespread backing, Infantino’s 2016 win was still made possible by shifting alliances, and he later recounted that a visit to Rwanda’s genocide memorial inspired him to continue his campaign despite the early lack of support.
- Subsequent Support: Following his 2016 victory, African support grew significantly. By 2022 and 2023, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had pledged unanimous backing from all 54 member associations for his re-election.
The Bloc of 54
CAF’s 54 member associations represent the largest single confederation within FIFA’s 211-member structure, making their collective endorsement one of the most consequential in world football’s presidential politics.
A unanimous vote, with no dissent from any corner of the continent, underscores the strength of the relationship Infantino has cultivated with African football over the past decade.
The timing of the announcement, on the eve of the 76th Congress, was deliberate.
The presidential election season is set to formally open at the Congress, with the vote itself scheduled for next year’s FIFA Congress. By moving early, CAF has positioned itself as a kingmaker in what is shaping up to be another decisive chapter in global football governance.
Several European associations have been openly critical, and UEFA delegates walked out of a FIFA Congress meeting in May 2025 in protest after Infantino arrived late, citing travel delays from accompanying Trump on a diplomatic tour of the Middle East.
Yet such opposition has done little to dent Infantino’s broader support base. He was elected FIFA President on 26 February 2016 and was subsequently re-elected unopposed for four-year terms in both 2019 and 2023.
If the pattern holds, Africa’s early and emphatic declaration of support suggests a fourth term is already well within reach.
What It Means for African Football
For CAF and its member associations, the endorsement is as much about continuity as it is about gratitude. The trajectory of investment in infrastructure, youth development, and expanded World Cup representation has altered the landscape for African football in ways that were difficult to imagine a decade ago.
Infantino has consistently assured CAF delegates that FIFA will continue to support the continent as a priority, and has highlighted the crucial role African football will play in the future of the game.
