Gianni Infantino

FIFA President Predicts Greater African Representation At 2026 World Cup

FIFA President Predicts Greater African Representation At 2026 World Cup

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has stated that Africa will have increased representation at the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. Speaking at the 14th CAF Extraordinary General Assembly in Cairo, Infantino emphasized FIFA’s commitment to expanding Africa’s presence on the global stage. “We are making sure that Africans can have a bigger say on the world scene,” he said. “In the next 2026 FIFA World Cup, Africa could see its representation double to up to 10 teams. The Women’s World Cup and the U-17 World Cup are also opening more doors for African…
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Football Racism: Forfeit Watches When Fans Are Racist – Fifa’s Infantino

Football Racism: Forfeit Watches When Fans Are Racist – Fifa’s Infantino

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has called for the implementation of an automatic forfeit of games for teams whose fans commit racist abuse. It follows incidents which he described as “totally abhorrent” at Udinese and Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday. AC Milan’s win at Udinese was briefly suspended after alleged racist abuse from home fans towards Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan. Coventry’s Kasey Palmer said he received similar abuse at Hillsborough. Infantino said in a post on X that there should be harsher punishments. “As well as the three-step process (match stopped, match re-stopped, match abandoned), we have to implement an automatic forfeit for the…
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Infantino Decries Violence At Argentina v Brazil World Cup Qualifier

Infantino Decries Violence At Argentina v Brazil World Cup Qualifier

Fifa chief Gianni Infantino said on Wednesday there was no place in football for violence after ugly clashes ahead of Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Argentina. A skirmish between rival fans broke out during the national anthems in a stand behind one of the goals at the Maracana stadium in Rio on Tuesday with Brazilian police confronting Argentina fans. “There’s no place in football for this kind of violence, on or off the pitch,” Infantino said on Instagram. “Players, fans, teams and officials deserve a secure environment,” Infantino said. Tempers had flared in the Maracana stands moments before kick-off, with…
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Women Should ‘Pick The Right Fights’ – Infantino

Women Should ‘Pick The Right Fights’ – Infantino

Fifa president Gianni Infantino says women who “pick the right fights” can “convince us men what we have to do” to bring progress in women’s football. The month-long Women’s World Cup concludes on Sunday when England face Spain in the final at Stadium Australia in Sydney. Speaking in Sydney, Infantino said women must “push the door” to equality. “With men, with Fifa, you will find open doors. Just push the doors,” he added. Despite record crowds in Australia and New Zealand, there remains a huge discrepancy in prize money between the men’s and women’s World Cups. The record prize money…
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FIFA President Releases Statement On Vinicius Jr’s Racist Abuse

FIFA President Releases Statement On Vinicius Jr’s Racist Abuse

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has released a statement in solidarity with Real Madrid winger, Vinicius, who suffered racist abuse against Valencia. In his statement via Instagram, he cited that world football's governing body stands with Vinicius and any player who finds him or herself in such a situation. "Full solidarity to Vinicius. There is no place for racism in football or in society, and FIFA stands by all players who have found themselves in such a situation. Events during the match between Valencia and Real Madrid show that this needs to be the case," he said in the statement." He…
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Gianni Infantino Set To Win Another Term As FIFA President After No Rival Came Forward To Challenge Him

Gianni Infantino Set To Win Another Term As FIFA President After No Rival Came Forward To Challenge Him

Gianni Infantino is set to win a new term as FIFA President after securing the support of 200 nations. The Swiss-Italian was elected president of world football's governing body in 2016 but his tenure is now in line to be extended after he stood unopposed in the leadership race and was backed by 200 out of 209 member associations. It is understood 52 European nations supported Infantino extending his term in charge, interesting because of tensions between himself and UEFA president Aleksandr Ceferin. Infantino new term at the FIFA helm is expected to be ratified at the 73rd FIFA Congress in…
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