FIFA president Infantino to visit Saint Lucia ahead of presidential elections

Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, lands in Saint Lucia this week on the latest stop of his Caribbean tour. Facing re-election next March, the global football chief continues to build support in the wake of  a public row over possible private investment in the World Cup.

On Thursday evening, Infantino will be feted at an official cocktail reception under the patronage of Acting Governor-General Felix Finisterre and Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre. On Friday morning, talks move to a breakfast meeting with the prime minister at Windjammer Landing Resort. 

This marks Infantino’s third trip to the island, following his initial tour in August 2019 and his appearance at the CONCACAF Congress in in March 2025. But this busy feels somewhat different. 

Over the past two months, the FIFA boss has touched down in the Dominican Republic, where he sat in on the Caribbean Football Union meeting in August. He also stopped in on Jamaica, Antigua & Barbuda, and the British Virgin Islands. 

Inter alia, Infantino has offered CFU and its members tens of millions in development funds, access to annual international youth competitions, and expedited grants for the construction of playing facilities. Crucially,  he had pledged a full redistribution of FIFA revenues to close the competitive gap between global football powers and the Caribbean’s critical voting bloc. The CFU is led by Lyndon Cooper, president of the Saint Lucia Football Association.

Infantino faces a re-election campaign in 2027, with the nomination deadline arriving this month. In July, the collapse of his proposal to sell commercial rights to private equity investors precipitated a rift with CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, and led to a public rebuke from CFU. 

In charge since 2016, Infantino has been returned unopposed twice. On Thursday, FIFA Council member Kohzo Tashima was reportedly presented as the first serious rival to Infantino at next year’s elections. 

The CFU represents 25 voting members in FIFA, a substantial bloc in global football governance. Infantino’s visit is certainly intended to reap benefits for him, but it will be crucial for local football to also realise tangible, lasting returns on the ground.