West News Wire: After running unopposed at the congress of the governing organization for international football, Gianni Infantino was chosen to serve as FIFA president for a further four years.
The assembly in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, on Thursday voted to confirm the 52-year-old Swiss-Italian lawyer in his position.
It is officially his first re-election since he first assumed the remainder of Joseph Blatter’s tenure, who was suspended, in 2016. According to FIFA laws, he can run for reelection in 2027 and serve till 2031.
Even though Infantino is not generally liked by member associations for a variety of reasons, including pushing for a failed plan to play the World Cup every two years, his re-election was merely a formality when no other candidate put themselves forward. a number of European nations, including Germany, Norway and Sweden, have not been happy with his presidency and said they would not actively support him.
“Let me simply thank all of you,” Infantino told delegates after being confirmed by a standing ovation at the 73rd FIFA Congress, where the voting system did not register the number of dissident voices.
“Those who love me, you are many, and the few who hate me, I love you all,” he said.
“Being FIFA president is a big honour and privilege but also a huge responsibility. You can continue to trust on my commitment.”
The men’s World Cup will increase from 32 teams to 48 for the next edition in North America in 2026, while the women’s World Cup will feature 32 teams for the first time in Australia and New Zealand later this year.
Infantino has also announced a projected income of $11bn in the four years up to 2026, compared with $7.5bn in the last four-year cycle ending in 2022.
