{
  "id": 761221,
  "title": "Qatar, Morocco among six Arab federations backing FIFA's Infantino",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/qatar-morocco-among-six-arab-federations-backing-fifas-infantino-761221",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-13T11:33:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2026/08/1510583/qatar-morocco-among-six-arab-federations-backing-fifas-infantino"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the midst of FIFA's ongoing crisis, six Arab national football associations have rallied behind FIFA President Gianni Infantino. This includes Qatar and Morocco, co-hosts of the 2030 World Cup. The turmoil began after a failed private investment plan, which led to three confederations - UEFA, AFC, and CONCACAF - questioning Infantino's conduct and demanding his resignation. Infantino, who is up for reelection next year, had initially proposed selling 20% of the World Cup's commercial rights to private investors to raise around $4.2 billion.\n\nThe six federations, including Qatar and Morocco, released a joint statement expressing their full support for Infantino. They praised his efforts to advance football globally and strengthen the game's role in bringing communities together. Four of the six signatories, including the heads of Qatar, Egypt, Morocco, and Mauritania, are also FIFA Council members.\n\nWhile some of these federations are part of the Asian Football Confederation, which had criticized Infantino's plan, they still maintain their support for him. This shows that a block vote is unlikely, even if the confederations have spoken out against him. The Confederation of African Football has also backed Infantino. Should Infantino face only one rival in next year's election, he would need a simple majority of 106 votes, or a two-thirds majority of 141 votes if there are three or more candidates.",
  "summary": "LONDON: Six heads of Arab national football associations, including Qatar and 2030 World Cup co-hosts Morocco, backed FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Thursday, with the game’s world governing body in crisis following a failed private investment plan.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Malawi FA chief backs Infantino, credits FIFA investment for World Cup breakthrough",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/malawi-fa-chief-backs-infantino-credits-fifa-investment-for-world-cup",
        "published": "2026-08-12T15:58:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Malawi FA chief backs Infantino, credits Fifa investment for World Cup breakthrough",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/malawi-fa-chief-backs-infantino-credits-fifa-investment-for-world-cup",
        "published": "2026-08-13T00:41:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport Football",
        "title": "FAI withdraws Infantino support as IFA backs Uefa",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/fai-withdraws-infantino-support-as-ifa-backs-uefa",
        "published": "2026-08-13T11:05:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "SABC News",
        "title": "Qatar, Morocco among six Arab federations backing FIFA’s Infantino",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/qatar-morocco-among-six-arab-federations-backing-fifas-infantino-775150",
        "published": "2026-08-13T14:07:41.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Doha News",
        "title": "Qatar, Arab Football Federations issue joint statement supporting FIFA’s Infantino",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/qatar-arab-football-federations-issue-joint-statement-supporting",
        "published": "2026-08-13T20:36:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}