Belgium Joins Growing Opposition to Infantino’s FIFA Re-election Bid

The Royal Belgian Football Association (KBVB) announced on Monday that it will not support Gianni Infantino’s candidacy for another term as FIFA president, citing persistent unanswered questions over two controversies that have engulfed world football’s governing body this summer. The decision, confirmed in an official statement, makes Belgium the latest European federation to formally withdraw backing from the embattled Swiss administrator ahead of the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027.

Two Fundamental Concerns

The KBVB’s decision rests on what the federation describes as two fundamental pillars where FIFA has failed to provide adequate transparency. The first concerns the now-abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project, under which Infantino proposed selling approximately 20 percent of World Cup commercial rights to private investors. According to the KBVB, insufficient insight was provided into the decision-making and motivations behind the proposal.

The second pillar involves the controversial Folarin Balogun red card case from this summer’s World Cup, in which Belgium was the directly affected party. The American striker was sent off in the United States’ round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which would have triggered an automatic one-match suspension for the subsequent round of 16 clash against Belgium. However, after US President Donald Trump personally called Infantino, FIFA’s disciplinary committee used Article 27 of its disciplinary code to suspend the ban’s implementation for a one-year probationary period, allowing Balogun to play.

“My team at the KBVB communicated with FIFA in a calm and constructive manner during and after the World Cup to obtain clarity in the Balogun case,” said KBVB president Pascale Van Damme. “Two months after the events, we note that our questions remain unanswered.”

The federation has formally requested that the Balogun dossier be placed on the agenda of the next FIFA Council meeting on October 15, where Van Damme sits as a member.

A Summer of Crisis for FIFA

Belgium’s announcement is the culmination of a turbulent summer that has fundamentally destabilized Infantino’s position. The crisis began in late July when news emerged of the FFE plan, which would have seen the Trump family’s orbit acquire a significant stake in World Cup commercial rights through investment vehicles linked to Joshua Kushner, brother of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

UEFA reacted with fury, with all 55 member associations threatening to boycott FIFA competitions if the plan proceeded. The proposal was withdrawn within days on August 1, but the damage was done. As HLN’s investigative series detailed, the conflict between UEFA and FIFA runs deeper than any single scandal, rooted in competition over match calendar time and audience attention between the two governing bodies.

The Balogun affair added another layer of controversy. The CNBC report on the incident documented how Belgium’s appeal against FIFA’s decision was declared “inadmissible” because the RBFA was deemed not to be a party to the proceedings. Belgium went on to win the match 4-1, with players openly mocking Trump during and after the game.

Growing European Consensus

Belgium joins a substantial and growing list of nations that have withdrawn support for Infantino’s re-election. According to Khel Now’s comprehensive tracking, countries including Germany, England, Wales, Norway, Serbia, Sweden, Greece, Albania, Finland, Netherlands, Denmark, Croatia, Romania, Jordan, Sierra Leone, Canada, Australia, USA, Israel, Italy, and the Nordic countries collectively have all withdrawn their backing.

The continental confederations of Europe (UEFA), North America (CONCACAF), and Asia (AFC) have all formally withdrawn confidence in Infantino. The Guardian reported that Wales became the first national federation to formally withdraw support in early August, setting off a cascade of similar announcements across Europe.

Italy’s FIGC followed suit in late August, with president Giovanni Malagò stating the federation would “continue to work alongside UEFA and other European federations to promote a vision of football based on merit, solidarity, sustainability, and putting fans at the centre,” as Inside World Football reported.

The Political Divide

Despite the mounting opposition, Infantino still commands significant support in other parts of the world. The African confederation (CAF), Oceania (OFC), and South America’s CONMEBOL have all expressed support, along with countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Egypt, Morocco, and Argentina. Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroon Football Federation, told CNN that “Infantino has helped our continent” and that African federations have developed faster under his leadership.

The political dynamics are complex. Infantino enjoys a close relationship with Trump, who has publicly defended the FIFA president. The Wikipedia article on the red card controversy documents how Trump’s personal intervention in the Balogun case became a flashpoint for questions about political interference in football governance.

What Happens Next

The FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March 18, 2027, at the FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco. Candidates have until November 18, 2026 to register. FIFA confirmed on September 6 that Infantino remains a candidate, with a spokesperson stating: “The FIFA president announced in April that he would stand for re-election in 2027. Nothing has changed about that, of course.”

However, no opposing candidate has yet emerged. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has ruled himself out but has hinted that a challenger could be found. The KBVB’s decision, while significant, reflects a broader question facing international football: whether the growing coalition of European opposition can translate into a credible alternative to Infantino’s leadership.

For now, Belgium’s stance adds weight to the European consensus that change is needed at the top of world football. As Van Damme put it: “I mainly want good governance that is transparent. We do not support Infantino’s candidacy, but what we mainly strive for is the right governance and the right structure.”

The October 15 FIFA Council meeting, where the Balogun dossier is expected to be discussed, will be a key test of whether FIFA is willing to engage with the concerns raised by Belgium and other European federations. With the election less than seven months away, the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether Infantino can survive the most serious challenge to his presidency since taking office in 2016.