PFF president Mariano Araneta, Jr. was given a fresh mandate by the Asian Football community after he was re-elected to the FIFA Council for the term 2023-2027 during the 33rd AFC Congress held in Manama, Bahrain.
Araneta garnered a total of 34 votes, more than the simple majority of 23 votes required during the elections where AFC President H.E. Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain was also re-elected as president for the term 2023-2027 by acclamation.
During Araneta’s previous four-year term in the FIFA council, he supported the increase of slots for Asian countries in the FIFA World Cup from 4.5 slots to 8.5 slots beginning in 2026. In addition, he also supported FIFA’s cause to set aside USD200 million for talent identification and development to help member associations develop and nurture competitive national teams.
“I would like to express heartfelt gratitude to the Asian Football Confederation family for their trust and and confidence in electing me to the FIFA Council for the term 2023-2027,” said Araneta. “Being in the FIFA Council is a position I do not take lightly and I am well aware of the responsibility given to me. I look forward to continuing our work in the FIFA Council to advance initiatives meant to develop, grow and promote The Beautiful Game.”
Araneta was among the seven (7) candidates for one of the five (5) representative spots in the FIFA Council. Joining him in the FIFA Council are Kohzo Tajima of Japan, Datuk Haji Hamidin bin Haji Mohd Amon of Malaysia, H.E. Sheikh Hamad Khalifa A. A. Al Thani of Qatar, and Yasser Al Misehal of Saudi Arabia. Kanya Keomany of Laos, was also elected as the Female Member in the FIFA Council after she was elected as AFC Executive Committee Female Member.
As FIFA Council Member, Araneta also has a seat in the AFC Executive Committee. Joining him in the committee are:
Five (5) AFC Vice Presidents:
West Zone: Hachem Haidar (Lebanon)
Central Zone: Mehdi Taj (IR Iran)
South Zone: Ugen Tsechup (Bhutan)
ASEAN Zone: Zaw Zaw (Myanmar)
East Zone: Ganbaatar Amgalanbaatar (Mongolia)
Four (4) Female Members
West Zone: Susan Riyad Abdelrahim Alshalabi (Jordan)
South Zone: Mahfuza Akhter (Bangladesh)
ASEAN Zone: Kanya Keomany (Laos)
East Zone: Han Uy Gyeong (DPR Korea)
Eight (8) AFC Committee Members
West Zone: Abdullah Ahmed Alshaheen Alrabeea (Kuwait) & Abdullah Nasser Aljneibi (United Arab Emirates)
Central Zone: Irmatov Ravshan (Uzbekistan)
South Zone: Bassam Adeel Jaleel (Maldives) & Pankaj Bikram Nembang (Nepal)
ASEAN Zone: Chris Nikou (Australia) & Pol. Gen. Somyot Poompanmoung (Thailand)
East Zone: Fok, Kai Shan Eric (Hong Kong)
The Philippine delegation to the AFC Congress are PFF vice president Joselito Pinol, PFF board member Jay Adriatico and PFF general secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes, who acted as the voting delegate from the Philippines.