Gianni Infantino seeks backing from small nations

Gianni Infantino is seeking stronger support from smaller football nations as he argues that the gap between the game’s leading powers and the rest must be narrowed. The FIFA president made the appeal during a meeting in the Dominican Republic with representatives of the Caribbean Football Union.

Infantino said football’s biggest countries should continue developing, but argued that progress must also reach nations with fewer resources. He called for more investment across the sport so that federations outside the traditional powers can gain opportunities to grow. His message places the Caribbean among the regions where FIFA is working to consolidate backing from smaller members.

The appeal comes as FIFA faces questions over a proposal to sell interests in the World Cup to private investors. Infantino said concerns around the project should be heard and discussed, while presenting himself as encouraged by the support he has received in the Caribbean. He linked that support to FIFA’s wider efforts over the past decade and its plans for the years ahead.

For the smaller federations, the issue is access to funding and development opportunities. For Infantino, the Caribbean outreach offers a platform to defend FIFA’s global approach while building support among members that have less influence than football’s major nations.