The French Football Federation (FFF) announced on Thursday that it will not support Gianni Infantino’s bid for a new term as FIFA president, joining a growing wave of European governing bodies breaking ranks with the global leadership. Speaking at the conclusion of an executive committee meeting in Paris, FFF leader Philippe Diallo confirmed that the organization’s members voted unanimously to withdraw their backing ahead of the March 2027 election.
According to reporting from Le Figaro, the decision stems from mounting friction over global governance and a controversial, now-aborted commercial proposal. Diallo stated that trust in the current leadership has fractured, pointing to a strategic direction that no longer aligns with French football officials.
Why the French Football Federation Withdrew Its Support
The rift centers on recent governance disputes within world football’s governing body. Over the past several weeks, critics have targeted Infantino over a proposal to open the World Cup to private investors by creating a commercial entity holding up to a 20 percent stake in tournament revenues. Opponents condemned the plan as opaque and advanced without proper consultation across national associations.
Although Infantino quickly shelved the project in the face of heavy pushback, the controversy continued to reverberate. Diallo detailed the rationale behind the French executive committee’s unanimous stance during Thursday’s announcement in Paris.
«With my colleagues on the executive committee, we consider that in a certain way the trust placed in the FIFA president has been broken, that the way we envisage the conduct of world football no longer corresponds to us,» Diallo explained, as reported by Le Figaro. He emphasized that the measure was taken clearly for the general interest of the sport.
European Defections and the FIFA Leadership Race
By publicly stepping back from the Italo-Suisse candidate, the FFF aligns itself with several prominent European federations that have already moved to distance themselves from the incumbent. Italy, Belgium, Sweden, and Scotland have similarly chosen not to back the current leadership.
Diallo pointed to a dual justification for France’s intervention in the electoral cycle. He cited historical legitimacy, noting that France is a founding member nation of FIFA, alongside sporting legitimacy stemming from the national team maintaining a position inside the top three of the FIFA rankings for the past decade.
Infantino confirmed on Sunday that he intends to stand for re-election on March 18, 2027. Despite facing pressure from multiple national federations as well as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf), he remains the sole declared candidate. He has, however, secured backing from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
What Comes Next for the FFF Election Strategy
With the 2027 vote approaching, the FFF has initiated formal consultations to determine its preferred path forward. While no alternative candidates have officially entered the race, media reports have speculated that Canadian administrator Victor Montagliani, president of Concacaf, could potentially mount a challenge.
The French federation plans to use its upcoming internal review process to decide whether to endorse an alternative candidate or participate in broader coalition-building efforts across international football governance.
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