Infantino lands in Colombia as football’s global crisis deepens

FIFA president Gianni Infantino arrived in Cali today to attend the inauguration of Colombia’s new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, amid a deepening crisis at football’s world governing body over the failed attempt to privatise its competitions, including the World Cup.

Infantino was greeted at the airport smiling alongside Alejandro Domínguez, the Paraguayan president of CONMEBOL, the South American football confederation that publicly backed him on Thursday against the confrontational stance led by UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation.

The Colombian Football Federation is among CONMEBOL’s member associations, and its support for Infantino contrasts with the European body’s sustained opposition to the privatisation plan. UEFA reiterated on Thursday its threat to boycott World Cups despite FIFA’s withdrawal of the controversial proposal and its public apology the day before.

Eight months before the end of his term and with elections scheduled for March 2027—currently with no declared candidates other than Infantino himself—the FIFA president faces intense pressure, particularly from UEFA.

At a children’s football festival in Cali, Infantino told dozens of children in football kits that he was “happy” to be there. “Football is joy, football is happiness, football is unity,” he said.

“Always look these children in the eye, even if they mock what we say, what we speak, all of that; the important thing is that we do everything possible so that these girls and boys can enjoy the most magical sport,” he added.

Abelardo de la Espriella, 48, was sworn in as Colombia’s president on Friday. Elected on 21 June, he represents the radical right and is an ally of US president Donald Trump, with whom Infantino maintains close ties.

The crisis at FIFA centres on the abandoned attempt to transfer commercial control of its tournaments, including the World Cup, to private investors. CONMEBOL’s backing of Infantino underscores a widening divide within global football governance over the future direction of the sport’s economic model.