World Football Governing Body, FIFA has re-elected Gianni Infantino as the body’s President until 2027.
According to reports, the 52-year-old Swiss lawyer, who succeeded Sepp Blatter in 2016, was waved in for a third term by acclamation, just as he was four years ago, by delegates from the 211 member federations.
Speaking to delegates, Infantino said “To all those who love me, and I know there are so many, and also those who hate me, I know there are a few: I love you all”.
Even though FIFA statutes currently limit a president to a maximum of three four-year terms, Infantino has already prepared the ground to stay until 2031, declaring in December that his first three years at the helm did not count as a full term.
Infantino has overseen the expansion of the men’s and women’s World Cup and huge increases in FIFA revenues.
“There is a lot to be looking forward to,” Infantino said as he turned thoughts to the next four years and declared the 2026 World Cup, the first edition to be enlarged to 48 teams, will be “the most inclusive World Cup ever”.
In a recent development, FIFA has announced that the tournament in North America will feature 104 matches, a huge increase from the 64 at the most recent World Cup, as it will start with 12 groups of four teams.
Meanwhile, the upcoming women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand later this year will be the first to feature 32 teams, up from 24 teams at the last edition in 2019.
More so, Infantino is planning to introduce a new, expanded Club World Cup to be played every four years starting in 2025 and featuring 32 teams.
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