Gianni Infantino has defenders. Alongside the support expressed this Friday by the African Football Confederation (CAF), in recent hours there have also been multiple shows of support for the FIFA president from South America. To the defense expressed by the South American Confederation (Conmebol) at midday Thursday, by the end of that day, statements from Argentina and Paraguay were added, the first national associations to protect Infantino against the criticisms from UEFA and other continental federations following FIFA’s ultimately failed attempt to privatize the World Cups. Argentina and Paraguay themselves, along with Uruguay, are aiming to host more matches in the organization of the 2030 World Cup, to be played almost entirely in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
Conmebol’s alignment with Infantino is scandal-proof and even withstands the opinion of the president of the Brazilian Confederation, Samid Xaur, who on Wednesday had criticized FIFA’s attempt for shareholders led by Joshua Kushner, brother of Donald Trump’s son-in-law, to commercialize the World Cups. “We are in talks with Conmebol but it is not something we look upon favorably. We will make a joint decision, but personally I oppose this sale of rights,” explained Xaur. However, in an exercise of balance to not weaken its relationship with one of its two main affiliates—the other being Argentina—Conmebol positioned itself on FIFA’s side and indirectly hinted at an attempt at destabilization from Europe.
The entity presided over by Paraguayan Alejandro Domínguez, based in Asunción, expressed its “concern over the repeated unilateral and unconsulted actions” and clarified that “Conmebol will not support any procedure that ignores institutional mechanisms.” Almost in sequence, at the end of the day, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) praised the “institutional solidity” that FIFA achieved after Infantino’s arrival and emphasized its governance model as “clear, stable, and transparent.” The Paraguayan Association also congratulated Infantino with identical expressions, describing FIFA as a “close, open, and transparent” entity.
Conmebol’s support, historically distant from UEFA, is also explained by its project to expand from 48 to 64 participants for the next World Cup. In 2023, Infantino seemed to grant South America a consolation prize for the next World Cup, which will be mainly organized by Spain with some matches delegated to Portugal and Morocco, when he awarded the first three matches of the tournament to Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay. Conmebol, which had also bid to host the World Cup, presented as its main card the centenary of the first edition, held in 1930 in Montevideo.
After the expansion from 32 to 48 countries in the last World Cup, South America went for more and proposed to Infantino a second consecutive increase: from 48 to 64. FIFA gave the green light to the project and was close to approving it, although the scandal arising around the privatization of the World Cups put the Swiss president on the defensive, who had to apologize for his project and will face re-election early next year in the FIFA elections. Many European national associations have already announced they will not vote for him.
With Brazil outside the plan—hence its criticisms of Infantino—Conmebol’s project for Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay to receive six matches each, instead of one as originally planned, was announced this Thursday by the AFA president, Claudio Tapia. “We have achieved that the 2030 World Cup is honored as it should be: the first was played here 100 years ago. What is the most important match? The first and the last. We have the first and we are working to have a full phase if it is played with 64 teams. And the main venues, Portugal, Spain, and Morocco, will have four more matches if it is played with 64 teams,” revealed Tapia.
Infantino, for his part, arrived this Friday in Colombia for the official presidential inauguration of Abelardo de la Espriella. The FIFA president is in a subcontinent that protects him.
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