AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa announced the decision on Friday at the confederation’s extraordinary congress in Tokyo, where Infantino was also present, Anadolu Agency reported.
Sheikh Salman said the two sides had reached an understanding following discussions in Zurich and reaffirmed the AFC’s commitment to supporting Infantino’s leadership.
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“We reaffirm our full commitment, of course, to supporting you and your leadership as you seek a new mandate as a FIFA president,” he said.
The AFC chief acknowledged previous disagreements but said they should not affect their cooperation going forward.
In August, Sheikh Salman joined the presidents of UEFA and CONCACAF in criticizing FIFA’s proposed Forward Enterprise (FFE) project. The initiative aimed to attract private investors to a commercial entity holding rights linked to FIFA competitions, including the World Cup.
The three confederation leaders described the proposal as a “fundamental breach of trust.” FIFA subsequently abandoned the project, with Infantino apologizing for shortcomings in its communication and consultation process at a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich on October 15.
Sheikh Salman said the sides had resolved their differences and were ready to work together.
“We need to move forward. And we believe football is strongest when we work together with a shared vision and a common purpose,” he said.
Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, also expressed support for Sheikh Salman, who is seeking a fourth term as AFC president next year.
“You’ve been doing a fantastic job in AFC in the last 13 years, my dear Salman,” Infantino said, adding that Sheikh Salman would have his full support and that of FIFA.
Infantino is seeking another term in the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027.
