All 54 African nations have come together in a historic consensus to endorse Gianni Infantino for re-election as President of FIFA for the 2027-2031 term.

This unified support follows their earlier backing in 2023, during which Infantino was re-elected by acclamation at a FIFA Congress held in Rwanda. The upcoming election is scheduled to take place in Morocco in a year, marking a significant moment in FIFA’s leadership.

In recent developments, the South American football Confederation, known as CONMEBOL, has taken the lead among the confederations by publicly advocating for Infantino’s continued presidency, breaking the ground for what could be a broader support base as the election approaches.

Infantino first assumed the presidency of FIFA in February 2016, succeeding the controversial tenure of Sepp Blatter. His most recent election occurred in March 2023, meaning the current term will conclude in 2027.

It’s important to note that FIFA has a governance structure that imposes a 12-year limit on its presidency. However, an earlier ruling by FIFA’s governance, audit, and compliance committee stated that Infantino’s initial term, which lasted three years, would not count against this limit.

This ruling effectively allows Infantino to potentially serve 15 years in total, extending his authority as president through to 2031. Such a decision has sparked discussions about the governance of FIFA and the implications of extended leadership.