Israel Football Association Withdraws Support for FIFA President Infantino Ahead of 2027 Election

The Israel Football Association (IFA) has officially withdrawn its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino ahead of the upcoming 2027 FIFA presidential election, according to a report by senior journalist Rob Harris. The IFA informed FIFA that recent developments have caused an unprecedented crisis of trust, though they remain hopeful for a resolution. The association emphasized its goal to restore a shared vision and proper direction for global football.

Israel joins several other national football associations, including Wales, England, Serbia, Sweden, and Finland, in retracting their backing of Infantino amid growing opposition to his leadership. This backlash intensified following Infantino's proposal to introduce private investors into parts of FIFA's commercial operations, including World Cup-related rights, a move that sparked strong criticism from UEFA. UEFA expressed concerns about significant changes to the governance of world football, leading to a unanimous agreement among its 55 member associations during an emergency meeting to withdraw support for Infantino.

Gianni Infantino has been FIFA president since 2016 and is expected to seek another term in the 2027 election. The IFA's decision reflects broader dissatisfaction within the football community regarding the direction of FIFA under Infantino's leadership.