FIFA President Gianni Infantino Praises Middle East Peace Progress and Discusses Future of Global Football Calendar and Competitions

Sports Reporter

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino has publicly congratulated the USA, Qatar, Egypt, Türkiye, and other nations for their collaborative efforts in advancing a ceasefire and the first phase of the peace process in the Middle East. Speaking via Instagram following the European Football Clubs General Assembly, Infantino called the news of peace “great” and “giving new hope for all,” urging worldwide support for the initiative.

Infantino went further to commend former U.S. President Donald J. Trump, stating, “President Donald J. Trump definitely deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for his decisive actions.” Although the peace process is not directly related to football, Infantino emphasized unity as a key theme at the assembly and expressed his pleasure at the encouraging developments.

Turning to football matters, Infantino addressed future World Cups and the global football calendar. He highlighted the challenges of scheduling international competitions across different hemispheres and seasons, suggesting that matches could be played in March or October to accommodate all regions. “In December you cannot play in one part of the world and in July you cannot play in another part,” he said, adding that an open mind is necessary to optimize the calendar for everyone.

On the broader football structure, Infantino stressed the importance of maintaining a regulated system that balances national, continental, and global levels of competition. He referenced UEFA’s recent approval of certain changes and noted the need for global consensus, including input from CONCACAF and the AFC, to avoid creating chaos in the sport’s governance. “Do we want everyone to play everywhere and do whatever they want, or do we want a regulated system which takes into account the interests of everyone?” he questioned.

Infantino also reflected on the financial growth of football competitions, highlighting the Champions League’s revenue increase from €40 million at its inception to €4 billion today. He expressed optimism about the future of the Club World Cup, predicting the potential to generate €200 billion over 30 years, compared to the current €2 billion revenue. Praising the recent Club World Cup’s success, he noted an impressive 2.5 million stadium spectators and an average attendance of 40,000 per game, second only to the English Premier League.

“We work together to see how we can make it better, bigger and more impactful in collaboration with the clubs and stakeholders because it will benefit everyone,” Infantino concluded, underscoring the global interest that can boost national leagues, European competitions, and worldwide football.

This comprehensive vision signals FIFA’s commitment to balancing football’s growth with unity and regulation amid a rapidly evolving sporting landscape.