Gianni Infantino - The African Mirror

Brazil submits letter of intent to host 2027 Women’s World Cup

BRAZIL has submitted a letter of intent to soccer's governing body FIFA to host the 2027 Women's World Cup, the South American country's Minister of Sports Andre Fufuca said. Fufuca presented the documents to FIFA President Gianni Infantino while he was in Rio de Janeiro for the Copa Libertadores final, which was won by Brazilian club Fluminense for the first time. "I delivered it to FIFA and Brazilian Football Confederation on behalf of President Lula," Fufuca said on X, formerly known as Twitter. "The Government Declaration formalising Brazil's intention to host the 2027 Women's Football World Cup and the government…

Oct

2023

Swiss prosecutors end proceedings against FIFA boss Infantino

CRIMINAL proceedings against FIFA President Gianni Infantino over his dealings with former Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber have been closed, Swiss prosecutors said, a decision Infantino hailed as a vindication of "the new FIFA". Infantino was elected in 2016 to clean up the world soccer body FIFA after it became embroiled in corruption scandals. However, Swiss authorities launched proceedings against Infantino himself in 2020 on suspicions of secrecy violations, abuse of office and aiding and abetting related to meetings he held with Lauber. In ending the proceedings, prosecutors said their investigations had "invalidated" such suspicions. Swiss-Italian Infantino, who had repeatedly…

Oct

2023

FIFA president Infantino offers condolences in letter to Israel and Palestine FAs

FIFA president Gianni Infantino wrote to the Israel and Palestine Football Associations, offering his condolences over the "horrendous violence" in the past week in a conflict that has taken over 2,700 lives so far. Hamas militants killed more than 1,300 Israelis in their attack on Saturday. In response, Israeli air strikes have killed more than 1,400 people in Gaza so far, authorities there said. "I would like to express... our deepest condolences to the Israel Football Association and the Palestine Football Association, in light of the horrendous violence that has been occurring over the past days," Infantino wrote. "It is as…

Jun

2023

United States to host expanded Club World Cup in 2025

THE first edition of FIFA's new 32-team Club World Cup will be held in the United States in 2025, world soccer's governing body said. FIFA confirmed in March that the revamped Club World Cup will be played every four years from June 2025. The FIFA Council unanimously appointed the United States as the competition's host for the first edition of the expanded format. The United States will also host the 2024 Copa America while they are also co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup along with Mexico and Canada. "The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will be the pinnacle of elite professional…

Mar

2023

Infantino re-elected FIFA president, telling critics ‘I love you all’

PHILBERT GIRINEMA GIANNI Infantino was re-elected as FIFA president during the 73rd Congress in Kigali, promising record revenues in the next four-year cycle of $11 billion as he called for more football to be played around the world. Infantino stood unopposed, making his re-election as head of football's governing body a formality, even if he is not universally popular among member associations amid controversies including the treatment of migrant workers in the run-up to last year's World Cup in Qatar and a failed plan to play the tournament every two years. "It is an incredible honour and privilege, and a…

Mar

2023

Infantino to lay out plans for new term at FIFA Congress in Kigali

THE major discussion points have already been settled before delegates gather for the 73rd FIFA Congress in the Rwandan capital of Kigali, including the format for the 2026 Soccer World Cup and Gianni Infantino’s next term as president. Incumbent Infantino will stand unopposed making his re-election a formality, even if he is not universally popular among member associations for a range of reasons, including pushing for a failed plan to play the World Cup every two years. Instead, there will be an expanded final that will feature 48 teams at the 2026 event co-hosted by the United States, Canada and…

Jan

2023

Fifa boss shows support for players racially abused in Italy

NEWS

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has called on fans to "shut up all the racists" after Lecce defender Samuel Umtiti and teammate Lameck Banda were subjected to racial abuse during their home game against Lazio. The match was paused for several minutes while a stadium announcement was made calling for the chance to stop. Infantino showed his support for Umtiti and Zambian Banda in a social media post. "Solidarity with Samuel Umtiti and Lameck Banda - let's shout it loud and clear: No to racism," he wrote as a caption to photos of Umtiti and Banda. FIFA president Gianni Infantino claps…

Nov

2022

Soccer Qatar’s Bedouin roots star in World Cup opening ceremony

ANDREW MILLS QATAR'S Bedouin roots, embodied in a tent-shaped stadium, were on display as the country's emir opened the World Cup at a ceremony during which he kissed his father's hand and welcomed the world to soccer's biggest event, the first time it has been staged in the Middle East. "From Qatar, from the Arab world, I welcome everyone to the World Cup 2022," Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said. "How lovely it is that people can put aside what divides them to celebrate their diversity and what brings them together." Then, fireworks exploded from the roof of Al Bayt stadium,…

Oct

2022

Qatar World Cup ticket sales near 3 million, says Infantino