The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has issued a statement in support of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who faces criticism over his plans for the future of the World Cup.
Infantino has come under fire since the end of the 2026 World Cup in North America. The Football Association of Wales was the first to withdraw support for his re-election bid for a fourth term. England, Sweden, Finland and Serbia have since followed, while UEFA threatened to boycott FIFA tournaments unless Infantino withdrew his privately-funded FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme, which he has now done.
AFA's statement of support
The AFA's statement, translated from Spanish, praises Infantino's leadership over the past decade, highlighting the development of football worldwide and institutional stability based on transparent governance. It acknowledges the decision to withdraw the FFE project, which had generated more uncertainties than certainties, and praises the acceptance of errors and the apology expressed to FIFA's 211 member associations.
The statement also reaffirms the AFA's belief that continuing under Infantino's leadership is the way forward for more inclusive football.
World Cup disciplinary cases
Meanwhile, FIFA is expected to announce sanctions against Argentina for incidents during the World Cup. Investigations cover discriminatory chants, inappropriate messages, failure to comply with protocols, late kick-offs, thrown objects, and political demonstrations.
Leandro Paredes faces the most serious charges, with three counts of assault. Under FIFA's disciplinary code, each assault carries a minimum three-match ban, meaning Paredes could face up to nine matches if found guilty on all charges. Coach Roberto Ayala is also under scrutiny for post-match events.
Argentina could face significant financial penalties, and FIFA has the power to order partial or full stadium closures.
