Mexico breaks ranks and dents Uefa-led bid to oust embattled Fifa kingpin Infantino

Mexico’s football association has broken ranks and delivered a blow to Uefa-led hopes of ousting embattled Fifa president Gianni Infantino.

Infantino has been attempting to stave off a rebellion from the confederations of Europe, Asia and the Caribbean, Central and North America, who have all strongly condemned his secret attempts to effectively privatise the World Cup.

African and South American nations remain firmly behind Infantino, and now 2026 World Cup co-host Mexico has joined them despite its confederation, Concacaf, backing his removal.

It means it could be harder for Uefa, Concacaf and AFC to achieve the support they need to force a vote of no confidence in the Fifa boss or put forward a candidate to stand against him at next year’s presidential election.

“The Mexican Football Federation (FMF) is convinced that football is the fundamental value and that its best defence lies in institutionality and respect for governance and the processes that safeguard it,” it said.

“Therefore, the FMF will neither recognise nor approve any process convened outside of this institutionality, and embraces the call made on August 5, 2026, by President Infantino to collectively continue developing football for the benefit of all 211 member associations.

“The FMF supports the leadership of President Infantino to continue driving the development of football through institutional strengthening.”

How many votes are needed to overthrow Infantino?

Infantino has resisted calls to quit over his plans to sell stakes in a spin-off company that would manage the commercial rights to the World Cup and other Fifa tournaments to private investors including the extended family of his ally Donald Trump.

He convened a crisis meeting in Morocco on Wednesday, after which Fifa released a statement saying it had apologised for keeping the plans secret from the Fifa Council and all member nations, and indicating that Infantino intended to stay on.

Since then, African confederation CAF has “unanimously reconfirmed its support for Fifa President Gianni Infantino and thanked him for his support for African Football, over the years.” South America and Oceania are also thought to back him.

Were Uefa, AFC and Concacaf to vote as blocs they would control 136 of 211 votes – enough to prevent Infantino winning a third full term – but Mexico’s stance, and that of some Asian nations including Qatar and Kuwait, have boosted Infantino’s bid to stay in power.