Conmebol president backs Infantino, says his work cannot be ignored

Alejandro Domínguez, president of the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol), reaffirmed his support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Friday in Cali, Colombia. Domínguez described Infantino as "the leader of football's transformation," praising the successful expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams, which exceeded his expectations.

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We are working firmly for the health of football, for its stability and for everything that is being transformed in football, and we have to be honest, there is a leader for that transformation.

Domínguez's endorsement comes amid controversy surrounding Infantino's now-withdrawn proposal to privatize a portion of FIFA's commercial operations. The FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project aimed to sell 20% of a new subsidiary managing commercial activities and events. The proposal faced significant opposition from organizations like UEFA and other confederations.

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The 48-team World Cup has been hugely successful, much more than I expected. And the name is none other than that of President Infantino.

FIFA announced it was abandoning the FFE plan after "listening carefully to all parties." Despite the withdrawal, several confederations have voiced opposition to Infantino continuing as FIFA president. However, others, including the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the Argentine Football Association (AFA), and the Mexican Football Federation, have reiterated their backing for the current FIFA leader. FIFA elections are scheduled for March 18, 2027, with Infantino currently being the only declared candidate.

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I believe that this great work cannot be ignored, we have already taken a stance regarding the withdrawal of the proposal, and we must continue working for football through dialogue, even if we do not always agree.