sports
Infantino plays the hits as Fifa’s defender-in-chief on eve of World Cup
The Fifa president’s monologue before the 2022 World Cup attained legendary status for all the wrong reasons. He was in familiar form four years on
TL;DR
- Gianni Infantino's 2022 World Cup speech became legendary for its rambling nature, where he identified with various groups.
- Infantino spoke again before the 2026 World Cup, held in Mexico, defending FIFA's actions and decisions.
- He addressed the visa struggles of the Iranian team, the high ticket prices for the tournament, and the case of a Somali referee denied entry to the US.
- Infantino claimed FIFA does not control everything and tries to solve problems through discussion.
- He praised the Estadio Azteca, recalling past World Cup glories, while protesters gathered nearby demonstrating against perceived unjust working conditions.
- Infantino expressed belief in the unifying power of the World Cup and praised Donald Trump's support for the tournament.