The German Football Association has declined to endorse Gianni Infantino’s bid for another term as FIFA president, delivering a rare public setback to one of the most powerful figures in world football.

FIFA officials approached the European associations competing at the World Cup and sought signatures for a letter supporting Infantino ahead of the presidential election in 2027.

Germany refused.

According to BILD’s report on the internal approach, FIFA’s European director Elkhan Mammadov contacted the 16 European federations represented at the tournament and encouraged them to back the incumbent president. DFB president Bernd Neuendorf did not sign the letter.

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The refusal is politically significant, but it does not yet amount to an official German campaign against Infantino.

DFB keeps final decision open

The DFB confirmed that it had not signed the document but said its governing bodies would consider what action to take next.

“Further steps will be discussed by the DFB executive committee,” the federation said in a statement reported by ZDF.

Neuendorf had already refused to make an immediate commitment when Infantino announced his candidacy at the FIFA Congress in Vancouver.

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“Gianni Infantino’s application for another term as FIFA president comes as no surprise,” Neuendorf said in the DFB’s official statement published in May.

“This office carries great responsibility. Assessing a candidacy is not my decision alone, but is a matter for our governing bodies.

“We will therefore consider the candidacy within the DFB and together with the DFL, and make a decision after the nomination deadline.”

Germany has therefore withheld early support rather than definitively announcing that it will vote against Infantino.

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That distinction matters. The DFB could still endorse him later, support another candidate or abstain if he runs unopposed.

World Cup controversy increases pressure

The decision comes during a difficult period for Infantino, whose relationship with US President Donald Trump has faced renewed scrutiny during the World Cup.

The most serious controversy concerns United States forward Folarin Balogun. His suspension was converted into a suspended sentence after Trump publicly said he had contacted Infantino and asked for the red-card punishment to be reviewed.

The British human-rights organisation FairSquare subsequently filed a complaint with the International Olympic Committee’s ethics commission, alleging repeated breaches of political-neutrality rules.

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According to Le Monde’s account of the complaint, FairSquare argued that political pressure may have influenced the disciplinary process. FIFA has not provided evidence that Infantino personally directed the decision, and the allegation remains unproven.

BILD reported that the Balogun controversy strengthened Germany’s desire to distance itself from the FIFA president.

Infantino remains overwhelming favourite

Despite the German refusal, Infantino’s position is not considered to be in immediate danger.

He formally announced his candidacy during the 76th FIFA Congress, telling delegates: “I want to tell you first, the 211 FIFA member associations, that I will be a candidate for the election of FIFA president next year.”

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The statement was published in FIFA’s official account of the Vancouver congress.

Infantino already has extensive support from associations in Africa, Asia and South America. No opposing candidate has formally entered the race, meaning Germany’s refusal currently appears more symbolic than decisive.

The election will be held at the FIFA Congress in Rabat on March 18, 2027, while national associations have until November 18, 2026, to nominate candidates.

A further victory would keep Infantino in office until 2031 and is expected to represent his final permitted term under FIFA’s current rules. His initial period after replacing Sepp Blatter in 2016 does not count as a complete term for the purposes of the limit.

Germany sends a warning

The DFB also withheld direct support when Infantino was re-elected without opposition in 2023.

Relations between the two sides were later described as having improved, but Germany’s latest decision shows that the underlying distrust has not disappeared.

For Infantino, losing one endorsement will probably not prevent another election victory. The greater danger is that Germany’s stance gives other European federations political cover to refuse automatic support.

FIFA wanted a show of unity around its president. One of European football’s most influential associations has instead chosen to remain outside it.