Six Arab federations back FIFA President Infantino amid calls to resign

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The heads of six Arab football federations — Qatar, Lebanon, Morocco, Sudan, Egypt and Mauritania — issued a joint statement reiterating their support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, praising his work to expand opportunities in global football. The signatories said his efforts have helped strengthen the game across regions and bring communities closer together. Infantino has faced calls to resign from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF following a failed bid to secure private investment in FIFA tournaments. The three confederations together represent 136 of FIFA's 211 member associations and will vote in the presidential election scheduled for March 2025 in Morocco. Infantino is seeking to extend his term until 2031. He would need a two-thirds majority in the first round of voting, with a simple majority sufficient in later rounds. The Moroccan-hosted 2030 World Cup will be co-organized with Spain and Portugal.