Israel Withdraws Support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino Ahead of 2027 Election

The Israel Football Association (IFA) has officially withdrawn its support for the current FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, ahead of the upcoming 2027 FIFA presidential election. This decision was announced following a secretariat meeting where all members unanimously backed the firm stance of IFA chairman Shino Zuaretz. Zuaretz sent a formal letter to FIFA citing an unprecedented crisis of trust due to Infantino's recent actions, while expressing hope to resolve disputes and restore a shared direction for football governance.

Israel joins a growing list of countries opposing Infantino’s re-election, including England, Scotland, Wales, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Albania, Ireland, and New Zealand. The opposition intensified after Infantino proposed allowing private investors to buy stakes in World Cup rights, a plan that faced severe criticism from UEFA and was eventually withdrawn. Despite the cancellation, the rift between FIFA and many national associations has deepened.

Several countries are now working to present a consensus candidate to challenge Infantino, requiring broad support from Europe, South America, and parts of Asia. The IFA emphasized that the decision followed a Sunday secretariat meeting where Zuaretz updated members, all of whom supported the move, leading to the official letter sent to FIFA removing Israel’s backing of Infantino.