Mexico breaks ranks with CONCACAF to back Infantino

The Mexican Football Federation (FMF) has declared its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, diverging from the stance of its regional body, CONCACAF. This move comes amid growing criticism of Infantino's leadership, particularly following his controversial proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.

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The FMF supports president Infantino’s leadership in continuing to promote the development of football through institutional strengthening.

In a statement, the FMF expressed confidence in Infantino's leadership and his commitment to strengthening football institutions worldwide. The federation aligned itself with the position of the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol), emphasizing that any process to remove the FIFA president must adhere to the established electoral procedures involving all 211 member associations. "The FMF will neither recognise nor approve any process convened outside of that institutional framework," the statement read.

CONCACAF had previously called for a "comprehensive reckoning" of Infantino's presidency, describing the abandoned investment proposal as a "symptom of leadership that has stopped putting football first" and part of a "pattern of missteps and similar behaviour." However, unlike some European bodies like UEFA, CONCACAF stopped short of explicitly stating it had lost confidence in Infantino.

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The FMF will neither recognise nor approve any process convened outside of that institutional framework, and it joins the call made by president Infantino to collectively continue developing football for the benefit of the 211 member associations.

Despite opposition from some national associations, including the English FA, Wales, Albania, and Croatia, Infantino continues to receive backing from several regions, notably the Confederation of African Football. The widening divide among football's governing bodies intensifies the debate over Infantino's future as FIFA prepares for the 2026 World Cup, which Mexico will co-host with the United States and Canada.

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a symptom of leadership that has stopped putting football first