Infantino receives backing from South American football leaders during Colombian inauguration visit

Gianni Infantino travelled to Cali, Colombia, to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Abelardo de la Espriella, standing beside CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez and Colombian federation president Ramón Jesurún. During a children’s football event he expressed enthusiasm for the game’s role in bringing happiness and unity to the region. The trip coincides with mounting scrutiny over his previously proposed, now scrapped, private-investment World Cup project.

Despite the controversy, several South American football authorities - notably the Argentine Football Association, the Paraguayan federation, and the federations of Venezuela and Ecuador - issued statements supporting Infantino as he prepares for a fourth FIFA presidential term. CONMEBOL’s Domínguez acknowledged Infantino’s work while emphasizing the need for dialogue, even when opinions differ. UEFA continues to threaten a World Cup boycott, highlighting the split within global football governance.