Gianni Infantino Marks 10 Years Transforming FIFA Football

On the 10th anniversary of his election as FIFA President, Gianni Infantino has thanked the 211 FIFA Member Associations (MAs) for their support in transforming world football.

Infantino, elected at the Extraordinary Congress in Zurich on 26th February 2016, recalled that FIFA faced a major crisis at the time. He said the organization has since moved forward with reforms focused on transparency, development, and unity with MAs.

“Together, we have brought football back to FIFA and FIFA back to football,” Infantino stated, emphasizing the key role of collaboration in football’s transformation over the past decade.

Key achievements highlighted include:

• FIFA Forward Programme: Launched in 2016, this increased development funding to MAs sevenfold and allows local investments.

• Youth Development: The Talent Development Scheme provides structured pathways for young players worldwide.

• Capacity Building: Programs cover legal, finance, infrastructure, medical, IT, safeguarding, and security support.

• MA Involvement: FIFA Executive Summits and new Standing Committees enhance member participation in decision-making.

• Fair Play: The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, introduced in 2018, now covers 83 MAs, with VAR Light and Football Video Support further expanding access.

• Global Stand Against Racism: In 2024, all 211 MAs supported FIFA’s anti-racism initiative.

• Men’s National Teams: FIFA World Cup expanded to 48 teams; the FIFA Series will feature 36 teams from six continents in 2026.

• Women’s National Teams: Women’s World Cup expanded to 32 teams in 2023 and 48 from 2031; 1,700+ development projects implemented across 204 MAs.

• Youth Competitions: Expanded FIFA U-17 World Cups and a new festival-style FIFA U-15 Youth World Cup for all MAs.

• Financial Support: US$1.5 billion COVID-19 Relief Plan, disaster relief via FIFA Foundation, and a post-conflict recovery fund approved in 2025.

• Club Football: First expanded Club World Cup held in 2025; Women’s Club World Cup set for 2028, along with annual FIFA Intercontinental Cup and Women’s Champions Cup.

• FIFA Club Benefits Programme: Expanded distribution and scope for club-level support.

Infantino’s decade-long leadership has focused on increasing opportunities for all levels of football, improving governance, and ensuring the game’s growth worldwide.