World Cup 2034 hosts Saudi Arabia back Infantino amid FIFA crisis
Saudi football federation says it supports Infantino’s ’efforts’ as he garners support to remain in power as president. Saudi Arabia, hosts of the World Cup 2034, have thrown their support behind embattled FIFA President Gianni Infantino as he continues to face criticism over the collapse of the governing body’s controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal.
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Key Facts
- Fact 1: Saudi Arabia, hosts of the World Cup 2034, have thrown their support behind embattled FIFA President Gianni Infantino as he continues to face criticism over the collapse of the governing body’s controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal.
- Fact 2: The kingdom’s Public Investment Fund partnered with FIFA for the 2025 Club World Cup and was also an official supporter in North America and Asia of this year’s World Cup, underscoring the kingdom’s growing ties with the global governing body.
- Fact 3: Gianni Infantino (second left), French President Emmanuel Macron and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, at the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup in Paris, August 23, 2026 [Teresa Suarez/AFP]Infantino has not called a meeting of his 37-member FIFA Council, which includes Saudi official Yasser Al Misehal, and instead met with most of his FIFA management team in Rabat, Morocco, three weeks ago.
- Fact 4: He has been widely criticised since tabling a now abandoned proposal to sell off a 20 percent stake in a commercial body for FIFA tournament rights, with several countries withdrawing their support for his candidacy.
Saudi football federation says it supports Infantino’s ’efforts’ as he garners support to remain in power as president. Saudi Arabia, hosts of the World Cup 2034, have thrown their support behind embattled FIFA President Gianni Infantino as he continues to face criticism over the collapse of the governing body’s controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) welcomed FIFA’s acknowledgement of mistakes, its apology and the decision to scrap the proposal, while calling for direct dialogue among football’s stakeholders to restore unity. “At this time, SAFF supports the continued efforts of FIFA President Gianni Infantino and FIFA’s leadership to restore unity across the football family and continue growing the game for the benefit of all,” the federation said. Saudi Arabia’s backing is significant given its expanding role in world football.
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