Israel Withdraws Support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino Amid Global Opposition

Israel has officially withdrawn its support for the re-election of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, joining a growing list of countries opposing his continued leadership. British journalist Rob Harris from Sky News reported on August 18, 2026, that Israel aligned with nations including England, Scotland, Wales, Albania, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, and New Zealand in voting against Infantino. The Israel Football Association sent a letter to FIFA citing an "unprecedented crisis of trust" and expressed hope to restore a shared vision and proper direction for global football.

This move marks another setback for Infantino, whose tenure has faced increasing criticism. Earlier controversies included his reversal on the sale of some World Cup rights to private companies. Now, several UEFA member countries are actively seeking to remove Infantino and replace him with a new candidate. Achieving this requires a majority vote among FIFA member nations, necessitating a coalition of UEFA, South America, and parts of Asia to agree on a consensus candidate.

The Israeli national team and football community are closely watching these developments as the leadership battle within FIFA intensifies, potentially reshaping the future governance of international football.