SOCCER: South America's CONMEBOL backs FIFA President Infantino for fourth term

South American football’s governing body CONMEBOL has expressed its support for Gianni Infantino should he choose to seek a fourth term as president of FIFA for the 2027–2031 cycle.

In a statement released on Thursday, CONMEBOL said its council “unanimously expressed its support” for the 56-year-old Swiss-Italian football chief, although Infantino has not yet confirmed whether he will formally enter the race.

“President Gianni Infantino, thank you for your continued commitment to the development of South American football and for the leadership exercised at a global level,” CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez said. “We deeply value your closeness to our region and your vision to continue growing the game worldwide.”

CONMEBOL becomes the first regional confederation to publicly back Infantino’s potential re-election bid.

Infantino first assumed office in 2016, succeeding Sepp Blatter, and has since been re-elected unopposed in both 2019 and 2023.

During his tenure, he has overseen major changes in global football competitions, including the expansion of the men’s World Cup to 48 teams for the 2026 edition in North America, as well as the enlargement of the FIFA Women’s World Cup to 32 teams in 2023.

However, his leadership has also faced criticism in some quarters, particularly regarding governance concerns and increasing pressure on the international football calendar due to the expansion of tournaments and competitions. -Reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters