Mexico hasn't just been quietly backing Gianni Infantino out of loyalty — there's reportedly a deal on the table. According to journalist Martín del Palacio, the Mexican Soccer Federation (FMF) is supporting the embattled FIFA president because he allegedly promised them something significant: the chance to leave Concacaf and join Conmebol.
That's not a minor housekeeping move. That would be one of the most consequential confederation switches in football history.
Why Mexico wants out of Concacaf
The relationship between the FMF and Concacaf has been deteriorating for years. Mexico's national team and Liga MX clubs began competing in South American competitions, and Concacaf responded by blocking El Tri and Mexican clubs from events like the Copa América, Copa Libertadores, and Copa Sudamericana. The mutual silence in official statements — Mexico absent from Concacaf's, Concacaf absent from Mexico's — is apparently no accident.
When an institution starts quietly erasing you from its communications, the writing is on the wall. Mexico wants a divorce.
Joining Conmebol would change the competitive picture entirely. Qualifying for World Cups through South America is statistically harder — for the 2026 tournament, Conmebol had six automatic spots and one playoff place, meaning only three South American sides missed out. Mexico currently dominates Concacaf qualifying. That dynamic shifts dramatically if they move south.
Which is exactly why an expanded World Cup matters here. If Infantino gets his way and the tournament grows to 64 teams, Conmebol would likely receive additional places — potentially making the switch viable for Mexico without sacrificing their near-guaranteed World Cup presence. It's a calculated bet, and the FMF is clearly running the numbers.
The Club World Cup piece
There's another layer. Mexico is still pushing to host the 2029 Club World Cup, despite Morocco emerging as a serious rival after Infantino's recent visit there. Continued FMF support for the FIFA president is arguably also a lobbying exercise for that hosting bid.
The precedent for a confederation switch exists. In 2006, Australia left the Oceania Football Confederation to join the Asian Football Confederation under then-FIFA president Joseph Blatter. It worked. Australia now competes for Asian Cup glory and qualifies through a far more structured pathway.
Mexico is looking at that blueprint two decades later — and reportedly has a FIFA president willing to sign off on it, provided the FMF keeps backing him while the rest of the football world pushes for change at the top.
