Saudi football delays decision on Gianni Infantino until September amid FIFA pressure

Saudi Arabia is unlikely to reveal its official position on Gianni Infantino’s future as FIFA president until after elections within the Saudi Arabian Football Federation at the end of August, according to reports.

British journalist Ben Jacobs said the federation’s silence was partly linked to an extraordinary general assembly scheduled for 30 August. The meeting will elect a new president to replace Yasser Al-Misehal, who resigned after Saudi Arabia’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup.

The impending leadership vote is understood to be one of the main reasons Saudi Arabia has not yet declared whether it supports Infantino remaining in office. The FIFA president is facing growing calls not to seek another term after the collapse of a project involving the privatisation of the World Cup.

Jacobs said the Saudi federation’s official position would probably not become clear until September, once its internal election process has been completed.

The journalist also reported that opposition to Infantino’s continued leadership exists within Saudi football. Citing several senior Saudi officials, Jacobs said there was resistance inside the country’s football hierarchy to the FIFA president staying in the role.

However, that opposition has not yet translated into a formal public stance from the federation. The outcome of the Saudi election is expected to determine who will speak for the organisation and what position it will adopt on the wider FIFA dispute.

Infantino has come under increasing pressure from a number of continental and national football associations following his decision to abandon a proposal to sell a share of the commercial rights to FIFA competitions. The plan attracted widespread criticism and contributed to a decline in the support he had previously enjoyed in several parts of the football community.

The project had been presented as a major commercial initiative but faced opposition from within the game. Its failure has intensified scrutiny of Infantino’s leadership and raised questions over whether he will seek another term as FIFA president.

Saudi Arabia’s eventual position could therefore carry significance as the debate over Infantino’s future develops. For now, the federation is expected to remain publicly silent while it prepares for the 30 August extraordinary general assembly.

No official announcement has been made by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation setting out its view on Infantino’s position. The latest reports suggest that any decision will be postponed until the new leadership has been chosen and the federation moves into September.