The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has become the first national football federation to publicly withdraw its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s re-election campaign, dealing a significant blow to his bid for another term ahead of the 2027 FIFA Congress.

According to reports by Reuters, the Welsh football body announced on Monday that it would not endorse Infantino’s candidature in the presidential election scheduled to take place in Rabat, Morocco, in March 2027.

The decision follows the collapse of Infantino’s controversial proposal to allow private investors to acquire stakes in FIFA’s major tournaments, including the men’s and women’s FIFA World Cup. As reported by BBC Sport, the FIFA president had proposed that each of the organization’s 211 member associations receive $40 million in exchange for backing the investment plan.

However, the proposal sparked widespread opposition from football stakeholders and regional governing bodies. Reuters reports that resistance from three continental confederations ultimately forced Infantino to abandon the plan, amid concerns over the commercialisation and long-term control of FIFA’s flagship competitions.

The Football Association of Wales said its decision to withhold support reflects its position on the failed investment proposal, making it the first member association to publicly distance itself from Infantino’s re-election campaign.

The development marks a rare public challenge to Infantino’s leadership and is expected to intensify debate within global football governance as FIFA members prepare for the 2027 presidential election. With the vote still months away, observers say the Welsh decision could encourage other national associations to openly declare their positions on the FIFA presidency.