The Mexican Football Federation (FMF) has broken ranks with regional governing body CONCACAF, declaring its firm backing for FIFA president Gianni Infantino amid an escalating global rift over his leadership.
The fallout follows intense backlash over a now-abandoned plan by Infantino to sell private investment stakes in the World Cup. While CONCACAF condemned the proposal as “a symptom of leadership that has stopped putting football first,” Mexico—set to co-host the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and the United States—publicly aligned itself with South American body CONMEBOL and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in supporting the FIFA chief.
In a statement reported by BBC Sport, the Mexican federation voiced full confidence in Infantino and insisted that any move to challenge his presidency must strictly follow established electoral channels across all 211 member associations.
“The FMF supports president Infantino’s leadership in continuing to promote the development of football through institutional strengthening,” the federation stated, stressing that it “will neither recognise nor approve any process convened outside of that institutional framework.”
The rebellion by Mexico highlights a deepening split within world football ahead of the 2026 tournament. European body UEFA has mounted the fiercest opposition, cautioning that member nations could consider boycotting the upcoming World Cup unless guarantees are provided that “such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again.”
Individual European governing bodies, including the English Football Association, alongside those of Wales, Albania, and Croatia, have also distanced themselves or withdrawn support from Infantino. However, with solid backing from Africa, South America, and now Mexico, Infantino retains significant support as debate over his governance intensifies.