FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks ahead of 2026 World Cup

[0:11] Can you repeat that? That was so nice. [0:27] You want me to do it again? [0:28] Yeah, do it again, do it again so that everyone can really. [0:31] Hola a todos, bienvenidos para esta conferencia de prensa de apertura con el presidente de la FIFA Gianni Infantino. Gracias por su tiempo. [0:42] Welcome, thank you. Welcome to this opening press conference of the World Cup, just one day away from the opening match here in Mexico City. [0:50] Thanks to the many hundreds of you who have gathered here and many more joining us online in the media centers across our 16 host cities and beyond. [1:00] Good to see you all here before the teams and the fans take center stage. [1:04] With that, I will hand over to the man taking center stage at the moment, the FIFA president Gianni Infantino, for some opening remarks. [1:12] Thank you, Brian. Muchas gracias. Mi querido Brian, a great pleasure for me to be here with you. [1:23] Hello everyone. Good morning for this press conference here. [1:32] And, ¿qué pasa? ¿Todo bien? Bueno. Bienvenidos a todos. Bienvenido a todo el mundo. [1:42] Bienvenidos a todo el mundo. Bienvenidos a todo el mundo. Bienvenido a todo el mundo. Bienvenido. [1:47] how to say it in all the languages. [1:51] So it's a pleasure to be here today because we are kicking off the 23rd FIFA World Cup. [1:58] So it's a moment of joy, it's a moment of celebration, it's a moment of happiness. [2:05] And I am very, very happy to see this ball rolling in a few hours' time, in the right way. [2:17] And this trophy is being awarded in a few weeks' time, the most iconic trophy in the world, [2:32] the most incredible cup, a trophy and a ball that makes people dream all over the world. [2:43] And today I hope we can also speak a little bit about football because that's what we are here about, right? [2:54] I know that there are other topics as well and we will definitely also touch on them. [2:59] But I would like to ask you to really focus on football. [3:06] So let me start by saying a few things. [3:10] The first one is that there is an empty seat here in this room today. [3:16] And this empty seat is for a French journalist, Christophe Glaze, who is the only sports journalist who is detained in the world. [3:35] And of course he has an accreditation and of course he has his seat here for him. [3:41] And I've invited his parents to a game, France-Senegal. [3:51] But I hope, I really hope, that in a great act of humanity he will be given grace, a presidential grace, [4:06] and can even join us here during the World Cup. [4:11] But for the time he's not here, his seat is here for him, for Christophe, Puch Christophe. [4:23] I would like to mention as well another journalist, Enrique Macaya Márquez, de Argentina. [4:33] Un periodista que este año va a celebrar su mundial número 18. [4:42] Empezó a hablar de mundiales en el 1958. [4:48] Es increíble. [4:50] Querido Enrique no está con nosotros hoy, pero sí va a estar al mundial. [4:55] Un gran abrazo de parte de todos. [4:58] Y seguimos, seguimos así. [5:00] I'm happy as well to see and to know that 17,000 media representatives have been accredited, is that right? [5:10] Yes, across all parties, yep, 17,000 including media partners. [5:14] So I think this is, I guess, this is a record. [5:21] But generally this World Cup, the 23rd World Cup in the history of FIFA, is a World Cup which is breaking records. [5:33] And for this we are very happy and for this, before we kick off, I want to say thank you. [5:45] I want to say thank you to quite a few people actually. [5:48] First to you, to the media, to all of you, for relating, for transporting, for bringing to the homes of people the emotion of the game. [6:03] You know from all over the world what it means to be part of the World Cup, what it means for people to participate, to live a World Cup, back home. [6:16] And you bring it to them, so I thank you for that. [6:22] I would like to thank you as well President Trump and his administration. [7:08] Everyone in D.C. the same in the United States, every governor, mayor, every person who has been involved, [7:16] every American citizen who makes us come home and live a great World Cup. [7:28] And finally I would like to thank as well Prime Minister Carney, his government, Canada, not just Toronto and Vancouver, [7:38] but the entire country who is gearing up for this World Cup again. [7:46] My thanks also to the 48 teams, the coaches, the players, the officials, the staff, the kit people, [7:57] everyone who is involved in the World Cup, and a big, big thank you also to the fans, the fans who are here, [8:13] six and a half million, seven million, we don't know exactly, will be in the stadiums for the matches. [8:20] There will be many more millions in the fan zones, fan fests, watch parties, not just in the three of those countries, [8:30] but everywhere in the world, and the fans make the World Cup, of course, what it is. [8:38] And I would like to thank as well those who are not participating, all 211 FIFA member associations, [8:47] because it's thanks to the work of all of them that we are here today. [8:53] It's thanks to the fact that we are investing, especially from the revenues of the World Cup, [9:02] into all these countries that football can grow all over the world, and the dream can be alive all over the world. [9:16] So, as I said, I would like to speak about football, especially when you are here, in this location, [9:28] in front of this incredible stadium, the Arteca Stadium, or as we call it for the World Cup, the Ciudad de Mexico. [9:37] Estadio Ciudad de Mexico, see? Is esto? [9:40] This is a special stadium. It's an iconic stadium. [9:45] It's a stadium where Pelé and Maradona won the World Cup. [9:51] It is the stadium where the match of the century took place, where Italy beat Germany in the semifinal in 1970. [10:06] By the way, Gianni Rivera, who scored that 4-3 goal, will be here tomorrow. [10:13] And Rivelinho from Brazil will be here as well. [10:16] It's the match where Manuel Negrete scored that incredible goal in the last World Cup here. [10:25] It's the only stadium which will have three opening games. [10:31] It is a real cathedral of football. [10:35] And it is definitely a part of the world that is blessed by the god of football, or the gods of football, [10:47] because otherwise we wouldn't have lived so many incredible things here. [10:52] So, before just opening the floor, can I say another? [11:00] Absolutely. [11:01] A few things? [11:01] Go for it. [11:06] Nice. [11:07] Air condition? [11:08] Yes. [11:09] Okay. [11:13] As I said, and as you can imagine, to organize a World Cup is not an easy undertaking. [11:23] So I want to say thank you to my entire team. [11:26] Some of them are here. [11:28] Others are in the different venues, in the different cities, back in Zurich or in the other offices. [11:35] A big, big team that works tirelessly to make sure that we can always be the biggest, the best, the greatest, [11:44] the most inclusive World Cup in the history of FIFA. [11:49] The biggest event probably in the history of mankind. [11:55] Three big, big countries, 16 host cities, 48 participating teams, 104 matches, 104 Super Bowls in one month. [12:07] You know all this, six and a half million people in the stadiums, six billion watching from home for free. [12:21] And all these people, they want to enjoy a moment of happiness, a moment where their day-to-day problems can be left aside [12:30] and they can just enjoy the game and cry if their team loses or cry if their team wins. [12:39] Just feel this emotion in community with others. [12:43] And this, I think, is absolutely fundamental. [12:47] Now, when we work on that, and this is something that maybe many people don't know, [12:55] maybe you know the numbers, you know, that we will generate whatever, 11 billion, 12 billion, 13 billion, we don't know. [13:02] We will see for the World Cup that we invest 4 billion for operational costs, [13:08] that the rest is going into developing the game in 211 countries, including in countries where nobody else is investing, [13:17] but FIFA, we'll certainly speak about that, but an operation like a World Cup is 5,000 staff members of FIFA, [13:27] it's 50,000 volunteers, it's 70,000 media representatives, but it's also 300,000 accredited personnel, [13:42] 300,000 people who have an accreditation like the one you have, [13:45] meaning they have a function, a job to do somewhere around the World Cup, [13:52] from media to security to catering to transportation, everything. [13:56] It's 300,000 people to make sure that everything happens in the best possible way. [14:02] We don't have just 16 whole cities, we have 500, 500 official sites. [14:07] Security must be guaranteed in these sites. [14:10] Transportation must be guaranteed to these sites, hotels, training camps, other areas. [14:17] 500 official sites. [14:20] All this, of course, requires a lot of work. [14:28] We are preparing for it to work seamlessly, without any issue, without any problem, [14:36] but of course you can probably not organize an event of such a magnitude in an absolutely perfect way. [14:49] I, as FIFA president, will always say that what we do is absolutely perfect. [14:53] Certainly, the work that my team is doing is absolutely perfect. [15:00] Sometimes, if they mess it up, it is because of me. [15:05] But it's true that we are confronted with challenges that we would rather not be confronted, [15:15] and when we are confronted with these challenges, then we have to deal with them. [15:20] And sometimes we can solve them, and other times we cannot solve them, [15:23] and we try just to make the best out of it. [15:27] So, I want to mention, maybe at the outset, and this maybe answers some of your questions already, [15:34] I mean, the three topics which were coming up all the time in the last few weeks. [15:48] Iran, tickets, and visas. [15:54] Nothing to do with football. [15:56] A lot to do with the current situation, with our host countries, with the world, the way it is. [16:06] So, let me say that on Iran, I'm very happy, because I went to see myself, the Iranian team in Turkey, [16:20] in Antalya, in March of this year. [16:25] And when people were saying, well, it would be impossible for Iran to come to the World Cup, [16:32] I told them, and I promised them that they would come, [16:35] and if I had to go with a bus to Tehran and drive them here, I would do that. [16:42] Their answer was, we will take the bus ourselves and drive it, if need be. [16:47] We qualified and we want to play. [16:49] And this is the spirit of football. [16:51] Of course, there are challenges. [16:54] Of course, it's not easy. [16:57] I don't know who else would have been able to ensure that in these circumstances, [17:05] which we cannot influence, obviously, [17:09] in these circumstances, Iran could come and play. [17:12] And when Iran plays, the stadium will be full, [17:15] and I hope there will be a positive atmosphere, because this is football. [17:22] This is about people forgetting for a moment their realities, [17:27] and being able to focus on a match and on a team. [17:34] So, I'm very happy that we managed to get Iran to come and play in this World Cup, [17:38] and I'm proud of the work of my team, [17:48] and grateful to the administrations of the three host countries [17:54] for having cooperated with us to make this happen. [18:00] And there are some issues that we are still dealing with, of course, [18:04] to make sure that everything goes in the right way. [18:08] The second topic is tickets and the ticket prices, [18:23] and are stadiums going to be full or not? [18:27] You tell me if I forget something, Brian. [18:29] Yeah, well, don't worry. [18:30] Or you will tell me certainly as well. [18:34] So, we sold until today over 6 million tickets. [18:40] There are always tickets on sale, as you know. [18:45] We also need always to keep some tickets for those teams [18:48] who qualify for the additional rounds. [18:51] The demand has been unprecedented, but not unprecedented by a little bit, [18:59] but unprecedented by a factor of 10 or more. [19:05] The number of ticket requests we received has been absolutely incredible, [19:09] and I want to start there as well by thanking all the fans [19:13] who bought the tickets, who are buying tickets, to come to the World Cup. [19:22] The World Cup is a unique event, an event that takes place every four years. [19:26] The last World Cup in this part of the world was in the last century, [19:31] in 1994 for the U.S., in 1986 for Mexico. [19:38] We don't know when the next one will be. [19:42] It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, [19:44] and when you are in a country, when you are in a part of the world, [19:50] you need, of course, to deal with the local habits and the local customs. [19:58] And let me just say that our entry price, which is $60, [20:05] is the lowest entry price of any of the American sports in the playoff phases. [20:16] Our average price, which is below $500, is again the lowest of the American sports. [20:26] On average, if we take the playoffs, [20:28] I think we can at least compare the playoffs of an American sport with the World Cup. [20:35] If you look at the final of the NBA, the Knicks against San Antonio, [20:43] I don't know how many people are watching that on TV, 10 million maybe, I don't know. [20:47] The World Cup would be watched by 6 billion people. [20:50] So in terms of importance, the World Cup is much, much more important. [20:54] And the fact that when we put these tickets on sale, [20:58] they go on the secondary market, which is absolutely legal here, [21:04] and they are sold for a much higher price, [21:08] this certainly shows that the prices were accurate [21:14] in terms of the way they have been determined. [21:19] You can also imagine that these decisions are not just taken like this, [21:23] somebody wakes up and decides on a price. [21:25] There is a lot of analysis, a lot of work, a lot of experts [21:29] who are involved in deciding what should happen. [21:37] And when it comes to these legal investigations or complaints [21:43] that were made in some states in the U.S., [21:47] let me say there as well that we are very relaxed about it [21:55] because before starting to sell six and a half or seven million tickets, [22:02] we check what we do with the best lawyers, with the best experts. [22:11] If we do something wrong, [22:14] then probably everyone selling tickets in North America [22:16] is doing something wrong as well. [22:18] But because this makes headlines, [22:20] it's good as well to put it a little bit in a context. [22:23] And let's say California, who was the first one, [22:26] it was in Los Angeles yesterday as well, by the way, [22:28] fantastic fan fest there at the Coliseum, [22:34] sold out for tomorrow, [22:36] 40,000 people will watch the opening of Mexico, [22:39] South Africa in Los Angeles Coliseum, beautiful. [22:43] So in California, we sold around 800,000 tickets [22:49] for the games in Los Angeles and San Francisco. [22:56] Now, out of these 800,000 tickets, [22:57] we had three, not 3,000, not 300, [23:02] three customers who complained. [23:08] I think a fourth one came since, so it's four. [23:14] And all these cases were solved [23:16] before, of course, these investigations started. [23:22] So we welcome every investigation. [23:23] We are happy to present everything [23:26] and we are happy to make our case. [23:30] But what is most important in all of that [23:32] is that every dollar that we generate [23:38] goes back into football. [23:44] If we were, like everyone else in football does by now, [23:49] selling our TV rights on pay TV, [23:55] like everyone else, [23:56] and nobody gets shocked about that, [24:00] then billions of people in the world [24:01] would not have access to the World Cup, [24:04] we would generate four times more revenues [24:06] and we could give the tickets probably for the matches for free. [24:11] They would still end at the black market [24:13] and in the secondary market [24:15] and be sold at thousands of dollars. [24:19] So we have to strike a balance. [24:20] And for me, as FIFA president, [24:23] it is important that we invest in all the countries [24:28] where nobody wants to invest. [24:30] Who is investing in South Sudan? [24:32] Who is investing in Sierra Leone? [24:34] Who is investing in Bhutan or in East Timor or in Vanuatu? [24:41] Nobody. [24:41] We do it and we do it thanks to the revenues that we generate. [24:47] And when it comes to ticketing in particular, [24:49] and ticketing in this World Cup in particular, [24:53] it is also connected with events like concerts, [25:00] half-time show, pre-match, [25:01] during the half-time at the final, [25:04] which again are connected [25:06] with the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, [25:09] where we want to raise money [25:13] to invest in education again all over the world, [25:18] in Africa, in Asia, in Oceania, Central, South America, [25:22] everywhere where there is a need is where the money goes. [25:28] So I thank very much all those who are contributing [25:32] to make this happen. [25:37] Now the third point about the visas also there, [25:40] we have heard and read a lot. [25:46] Truth is, we have been able, [25:49] when it comes to the US in particular, [25:51] where the highest number of games are taking place, [25:55] to organize with the American administration [25:58] the FIFA Pass system, [26:01] so a speedy procedure to obtain the visas, [26:05] which I am told is working. [26:07] Now maybe it's not working always and with everyone, [26:11] but in the vast majority of situations it is. [26:15] We have obtained that the bonds or the payments [26:20] which had to be made on some countries in Africa [26:23] have been waived, [26:25] so they don't have to be made [26:26] for those who are coming to the World Cup. [26:30] No government has obtained that for their citizens. [26:32] We obtained it for the fans. [26:38] Of course it is unfortunate as well [26:40] what happened to Omar, the referee from Somalia, [26:50] but again we don't control everything. [26:53] We try, we will discuss, we will speak, we will see. [26:58] Maybe sometimes it's good as well to just, you know, chill, relax. [27:05] We work on everything. [27:07] We try to solve everything. [27:10] Sometimes to immediately start screaming and shouting [27:13] has the opposite effect of finding a solution. [27:17] Believe me when I tell you, [27:19] or don't believe me if you don't want, [27:20] but we try always to find solutions. [27:25] Always. [27:25] But then we need to respect that we are not the kings of the world [27:31] who can rule over governments and police forces [27:36] and I don't know what. [27:38] We are a sports organization. [27:39] We try to do our best with the means that we have [27:42] to make as much as possible. [27:46] And in this, and I conclude, [27:49] we want to unite the world. [27:53] And if I can ask you one thing, [27:56] again, if you want to criticize me, criticize me. [27:59] It's fine. [28:01] It's okay. [28:02] But promote the unity of the World Cup. [28:06] Promote people coming to the World Cup, [28:09] feeling those emotions that all of you [28:12] have been feeling when you were children [28:15] and I hope you can still feel them now. [28:18] Because we want to unite the world. [28:20] And speaking about uniting and unity, [28:26] I want to give you two more pieces of information. [28:31] Also there, I've been reading a lot [28:33] and I've not been saying anything. [28:37] So we just have reached an agreement [28:40] and signed a memorandum of understanding [28:42] with FIFPRO, the Players' Union. [28:46] And this is good news. [28:48] It's about unity, about bringing everyone together [28:51] because we've always been having dialogues. [28:54] Now, sometimes you don't agree. [28:55] When you don't agree, [28:56] well, you can go and say it to everyone [28:59] or you can sit down and discuss [29:01] and see what makes more or less sense. [29:06] So we signed a memorandum of understanding with FIFPRO. [29:08] Everything is agreed. [29:11] We have an agreement of the Players' Union, [29:15] of the EFC, the European Football Clubs, [29:21] and of the World League Association [29:22] on the new version of the regulation [29:25] for the status and transfer of players. [29:29] This is very important as well. [29:30] This is $7, $8, $9, $10 billion [29:33] moving from one country to the other, [29:38] helping training clubs. [29:41] This has to be regulated. [29:44] And because of a case, [29:46] the so-called Diara case, [29:47] we had to revisit it. [29:49] We did. [29:51] We made an agreement as well with Diara [29:55] without any compensation, [29:58] without, of course, any liability from FIFA, [30:01] but just discussing with common sense. [30:04] And everyone now is on board. [30:06] We have a new regulation. [30:07] It will be approved, hopefully, [30:09] very, very soon by the FIFA Council, [30:11] by the Bureau. [30:12] I already approved it. [30:13] My colleagues, I'm sure they are, [30:15] they will approve it, hopefully, as well. [30:19] And we will be able to start the World Cup [30:25] and then also the transfer season and so on [30:27] with a much more united landscape [30:31] in the world of football. [30:35] Thank you very much. [30:37] The floor is yours. [30:38] The floor is yours. [30:39] Thank you very much, Gianni. [30:40] Okay, time for questions. [30:41] Please wait for the microphone. [30:42] One question each per organization. [30:45] I want to try and get to as many views possible. [30:47] If you could state your name and organization. [30:51] So we'll go first, please, on the front row. [30:56] Gentlemen. [30:57] Okay, front row here. [31:00] Second. [31:01] Yeah, there's gentlemen here. [31:02] One starters. [31:30] What's the feeling of the president of the FIFA? [31:33] What's the feeling of the last two years? [31:36] What's the feeling of the FIFA? [31:36] What's the feeling of the last two years? [31:38] And of having a group of the SELECTION MEXICANA, [31:40] of course, inaugurating the World Cup. [31:42] Thank you, President. [31:45] Thank you, President. [31:47] Thank you very much for the question. [31:48] Well, the truth is, [31:51] as a president of the FIFA, [31:52] it's a unique emotion [31:55] for me to be in this stadium, [32:00] inaugurating the World Cup No. 23. [32:05] I was born on the 23rd of March, [32:09] but this has nothing to do with it. [32:11] But I was born in 1970, [32:14] which was the year of the first World Cup in Mexico, [32:18] and my dad, and this is a lot of emotion, [32:21] told me about this stadium, [32:25] that for Italian immigrants in Suiza, [32:31] it looked like something on another planet, [32:38] but it gave me so much pride in my parents [32:42] for the results of the Italian selección, [32:46] of course, [32:48] but also for this incredible Brazil that won this World Cup [32:56] with an absolutely incredible team. [33:01] In 1986, the same thing with Diego, [33:05] a unique emotion. [33:11] We remember the goal of Diego, [33:15] the final with Germany. [33:17] The truth is that this stadium is blessed, [33:22] blessed, [33:24] blessed by the God of football, [33:26] because he has seen incredible things, [33:30] and the third part of the inauguration of a World Cup, [33:36] the first World Cup that is co-organized in three countries, [33:41] because this is also important, [33:43] but it is important that three countries like Mexico, [33:47] the United States and Canada work together [33:51] to organize the biggest event in the world, [33:53] and it shows that when we want, [33:55] we can do it. [33:57] And I think the magic of the Azteca [34:00] has played an important role. [34:03] Thank you. [34:04] Thank you. [34:08] Thank you. [34:09] Okay, we'll go to third row. [34:10] Gentlemen in the glasses there. [34:12] Third row. [34:14] Third row. [34:20] Third row at the back. [34:21] Third row. [34:22] Here. [34:25] Keep going. [34:27] There. [34:28] Yeah. [34:31] Thank you. [34:35] Hello, Yanni. [34:36] Good morning. [34:37] Hello. [34:38] Good morning. [34:39] We have been talking about the problems [34:41] that have been solved. [34:42] We are talking about the problems that have been solved. [34:43] But we are talking about a bit about football. [34:45] We are at the moment that we have for four years. [34:48] What do we expect of this World Cup? [34:50] Do we have to be Messi? [34:51] Do we have to be Cristiano? [34:52] Will be in four years? [34:53] I will be sure. [34:54] What expectations have FIFA about this World Cup? [34:59] What opinion are you in particular? [35:00] Favorites or no favorites? [35:02] Have a bit of football. [35:03] Well, thank you very much, absolutely. I think it's going to be, and it's not I who say it, I understand very little about football, as you know, but I have people around me who know football very well. [35:22] This world will certainly be one of the most spectacular in history because today it's very difficult to see who can win this world. [35:35] In the past, there were always two or three favorites, then there was a surprise, but in this world, the truth, it's very, very difficult. [35:47] It can be the Europeans, Spain, France, England, Germany, Italy, Portugal, of course, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia have very good teams. [36:07] I mean, Marruecos or Senegal, Africa, sorpresas, no sé, Japón tiene muy buen equipo también y lo hemos visto. [36:18] Noruega tiene buen equipo. Va a ser muy difícil ver o decirlo anteriormente quién puede ganar. [36:30] Y por eso creo que va a ser espectacular. Va a ser espectacular también porque vamos a tener distintos equipos que juegan en distintas partes de los tres países. [36:41] La altura en Ciudad de México, clima tropical en Miami, en el oeste de Estados Unidos, otro clima. [36:52] Otra vez, estallos cerrados, estallos abiertos. Un partido más para ganar. No siete, sino ocho partidos para ganar. [37:04] Cómo hacer la química de las selecciones de los equipos entre ellos. [37:11] Bueno, yo creo que hoy todos los equipos tienen una preparación tal y el fútbol nunca ha sido mejor como juego que la verdad lo vamos a disfrutar. [37:24] Las canchas son espectaculares. Hemos invertido ahí también mucho dinero en los últimos cinco años para prepararlas, [37:33] para que tengamos las mismas condiciones en Miami, en Vancouver o en Ciudad de México. [37:41] Y bueno, que sea una fiesta y que la fiesta comience ya. Gracias. [37:48] Just a reminder, please, for your name and organization. Rule 4, there. [37:52] Dan Rowan, BBC. [38:04] Mr. President, you say people should chill and relax about these situations, [38:10] but you've got one of the world's top referees told he can't enter the United States, [38:16] sent back home, accused of having links with suspected terror organizations. [38:21] We have Mexico having to change their training, sorry, Iran having to change their training base here to Mexico. [38:27] We have fans and journalists from a number of countries who aren't able to attend this World Cup [38:32] because of travel bans or visa restrictions. [38:34] You yourself have said in the past how important it is to have freedom of movement at a global event like this. [38:40] You've said how inclusive it is, how welcoming it is as well. [38:44] Are you embarrassed, therefore, by what actually has come to pass? [38:47] And do you have to accept that you've lost some control of your own tournament here? [38:51] Thanks. You're from BBC. BBC. [38:57] You know, in 2035, I think we hope the Women's World Cup will be in the UK, right? [39:09] Still needs to be a decision, but looks like. [39:12] Would you find it normal that FIFA would dictate to the British government who to let in the country and who not to let in the country? [39:29] I don't know. Maybe. Maybe you find it normal. [39:36] I would like, personally, on the other side, the reality of the matter is that in every country there are governments. [39:52] Try to get into the UK, into Germany, into Switzerland without a visa. Try to get a visa if you are for a certain country. [40:00] It's not easy. That's what I want to say. [40:02] It's not easy when you have 300,000 accredited people, majority of which from outside of the US, to process them, to vet them. [40:13] You don't know. Unfortunately, our world is, you know, a very aggressive world and security goes above everything. [40:22] And you need to respect the decisions which are taken. And when I say to chill, I don't mean to chill and do nothing. [40:33] I mean to trust us that we are working behind the scenes. We are trying to understand. [40:41] And there are things we can know, things we cannot know, things we are told, things we are not told. [40:46] And we always try to make the situation as positive as possible and to find solutions. [40:54] Sometimes we manage. Other times, not. You know, I think it has already been successful to bring Iran to play in America. [41:07] I don't know who would have managed to do that. And of course, everyone here believes it's the right thing to do. [41:13] But, you know, again, we don't live on the moon. We live on the planet Earth. And you have to deal with different situations. [41:22] We try to do our best. We try to do our best. And I hope we'll have some good news. [41:28] Gentlemen, the front row. Thank you. [41:32] President John Sutcliffe, the ESPN. [41:36] Yo le quiero hacer una pregunta a Jan Infantino, el ser humano. [41:39] Hoy vivimos un tiempo que hay gente en guerra, gente que no se lleva, falta de empatía. [41:46] ¿Cómo estos 39 días pueden ayudar a toda esa gente por todo el mundo que no se lleva? [41:56] A ver si por lo menos empiezan a tratar de llevarse. Gracias. [42:01] Gracias por la pregunta. Yo creo, la verdad, creo en la magia, en la potencia del balón, del fútbol, [42:16] de este trofeo, de la Copa Mundial de la FIFA, de estos partidos de este mundial. [42:23] Yo soy, bueno, como todos, veo la situación en la cual está el mundo. [42:32] Además de esto, todos tenemos nuestros propios problemas personales en cada lugar del mundo. [42:50] Pero creo también que un evento de una magnitud, de una importancia, de una potencia trascendental como un mundial puede ayudar. [43:03] Porque estoy convencido que el ser humano es bueno y no malo. Profundamente bueno y no malo. [43:20] Y aunque algunos malos hay, por supuesto, y algunos quieren y piensan que solamente, no, una cosa que se oye siempre, solo malas noticias es noticia. [43:32] Creo que no. Creo que no es así porque lo vivimos, lo vivimos siempre, lo vivimos en el último mundial en Qatar, [43:39] donde teníamos miedo de tener aficionados de 32 países en el mismo lugar, el mismo tiempo. [43:48] Normalmente hay aficionados de dos países en la misma ciudad y hacemos todos los planes de seguridad [43:55] porque una parte de la hinchada se venga de aquí y otra parte se venga de allá para que nos encuentren y todo esto. [44:01] En Qatar estaban todos ahí juntos durante un mes. [44:05] ¿Y qué pasó? No pasó nada. Amistades, felicidad. [44:11] La gente no hablaba los idiomas, pero como iban juntos, jugaban al fútbol, porque la gente quiere estar juntas y quiere tener un momento de felicidad. [44:23] Y creo entonces, y también pienso a mi situación cuando era niño, cuando no teníamos nada con mis padres, con mis amigos emigrantes en Suiza. [44:37] Bueno, el mundial era la ocasión de tener un orgullo, de tener una fiesta, de tener un momento de compartir una emoción con alguien. [44:49] Y la verdad creo que nuestro mundo, sobre todo hoy, es lo que necesita y por esto lo que les pido es transmitir esta emoción positiva a todo el mundo. [45:03] Luego, los problemas que hay, bueno, los hablamos y los resolvemos. Gracias. [45:09] Ok, next question, over this side. Six at the top. Thank you. [45:16] Jabulongiti from News24 in South Africa. President, you've said that you need to promote the unity of the World Cup. [45:24] But when the bulk of these games are going to a country whose stance has gone against that promoting unity, do you regret the US being one of the co-hosts of this World Cup, given that the bulk of the hiccups and challenges from this tournament have come from the administration? [45:43] Do I regret what? Did you hear? Do I regret what? No, I don't regret anything. I think, I mean, you know, I've been organizing events for the last, I don't know, 30 years probably between UEFA and FIFA. [46:05] I'm pretty much looking at my colleagues here. I'm pretty much used to deal with issues. If there are no big issues, there are small issues and the small issues become big issues as well. [46:20] The press conference I made three and a half years ago, you all remember that. The issues there were different, probably bigger. [46:29] We were giving and I was feeling that I have to give the voice to all those who are unheard, the Global South or whatever I've been told. [46:39] So, you know, there are issues as it's normal for an event of this magnitude. I'd always hope there are no issues, but hey, that's what we have to deal with. [46:54] Some come from the United States, some from Canada, some come from Mexico. We deal with all of them and we have the same positive spirit. [47:04] Hopefully we can solve all of them, probably not, but we still do our best. [47:11] Okay, thanks. Front row here. Thank you. Tom, in front. In front. Yeah. In front, Tom. Front row. Thank you. [47:22] Thank you. [47:24] Hola, Presidente. ¿Cómo estás? Marina Granciera de Caracol de Colombia. Quisiera preguntarle por... [47:29] Caracol. [47:30] Sí. Quisiera preguntarle por el nuevo protocolo de himnos que van a tener en la Copa del Mundo. [47:37] Sí. [47:38] Esta semana fue una gran novedad y quisiera saber cómo va a funcionar y cómo llegaron a la conclusión [47:44] de que eso sería una novedad importante para esta Copa del Mundo. Gracias. [47:48] Gracias. Bueno, gracias por la pregunta. Y ya vamos a ver cómo va a ser el nuevo protocolo. [48:00] ¿Contesta en inglés o mayoría de inglés o español? Espanol. Espanol. Es que mi español no es tan bueno. [48:09] Bueno, vamos a intentar. Vamos a intentar porque es una pregunta, la verdad, muy importante, muy interesante. [48:19] Por primera vez vamos a tener todos los jugadores, los 26 jugadores que van a ir al campo. [48:26] Las banderas van a ser enormes y el himno nacional se va a escuchar con las banderas enormes y con todo el equipo ahí en el campo. [48:39] ¿De dónde nació? Bueno, como sabéis, nosotros siempre queremos hacer nuevas cosas. [48:48] Y he entendido, bueno, esto tiene que ser algo de americano, business, no sé qué, showtime. [48:57] Esto nació de una conversación que tuve yo con Alessandro del Piero. [49:05] ¿Conocéis a Alessandro del Piero? Alessandro del Piero un día hace unos meses me dice [49:11] ¿Por qué no piensas a poner todos los jugadores en el campo durante el himno? [49:21] Le digo, ¿por qué? Porque somos todos parte del mismo equipo. [49:25] No sé si es porque cuando él marcó uno de los goles más lindos de los mundiales, [49:33] que era el 2 a 0 de Italia contra Alemania en Dortmund en el mundial 2006, [49:38] él entró del banquillo. O sea, el banquillo entró y marcó este gol increíble. [49:44] No sé si es por esto que me lo dijo, pero me dijo, sí, somos todos parte del mismo equipo. [49:50] Y para mí tenía razón y entonces hemos empezado a hablarlo todos juntos. [49:57] Me parecía interesante, lo hablamos con otras personas de fútbol, jugadores, entrenadores, [50:12] y todos pensaban que era una buena idea de hacer participar a todos los jugadores. [50:19] Porque en el fútbol de hoy tenemos once en el campo, cinco sustituciones, pueden ser seis, [50:27] puede ser hasta una más, y durante un mundial pueden jugar, la verdad, todos los jugadores. [50:35] Y entonces hacer que puedan sentirse parte de este momento tan emocional, [50:42] que es el momento del himno nacional, creo que es algo positivo para todos los jugadores, [50:50] la gente, la afición, y espero que se vea de esta manera. [50:54] Luego vamos a ver cómo funciona, no lo sé, nos vamos a sorprender. [50:59] Gracias por la pregunta. [51:02] OK, thank you. Second row, please. Five in. [51:07] Hi, Rob Harris from Sky News. We've heard you talk about how you need to raise money for football, [51:18] also about how you want to focus on the football. [51:21] Football needs fans, they bring the passion. [51:23] You were once a fan growing up who couldn't afford tens of thousands of dollars for a ticket. [51:28] Your friend Donald Trump said he wouldn't pay a thousand dollars for a ticket. [51:31] The British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it's unacceptable for fans to be exploited. [51:37] Are Trump and Starmer wrong or do you apologize to fans who feel ripped off and priced out? [51:43] And will you look to ensure that prices do come down and never as high again? [51:47] Well, let me say one thing as well at the outset. [51:53] Let me congratulate Mayor Mamdani from New York. [51:59] I was with him the day before yesterday, actually. [52:02] I have to congratulate him because he put on sale a thousand tickets at $50 a couple of months ago [52:13] and since then he gets fantastic news. [52:16] We put on sale 130,000 tickets at $60 and we don't get great news. [52:27] Probably has better communication people than us or probably he's better than me. [52:32] I don't know. [52:33] But I want to congratulate him, of course, for that and for that initiative as well. [52:37] And to reiterate that the starting prices at $60 that the market, everything I said before, [52:42] the market is here, what it is, that if you sell it at a lower price point, [52:48] and again, this has been part of intense and extensive analysis in this particular market, [52:54] it would have gone, which is perfectly legal in this country, in secondary markets at much, [53:00] much, much higher prices. [53:02] And where would the money go then? [53:05] Well, to those who organize secondary market or black market activities and not to football. [53:13] So every dollar that comes in goes back into the development of football. [53:20] We have one competition every four years that generates revenues. [53:25] The 47 other months out of the 48 of four years, we are investing this revenue in the growth of the game. [53:35] Nobody else is doing that. [53:37] Nobody. Nobody. [53:39] This allows us to maintain as well free TV. [53:43] I said we could put everything on pay. [53:45] We would generate 30 billion revenues probably. [53:47] But then you have billions of people in the world who would not be able to watch the World Cup. [53:56] So the soul and the heart is the fans in the stadiums. [54:00] It's the fans in the fan zones. [54:01] It's the fans at home. [54:03] It's every football fan. [54:04] We want to bring the World Cup to every football fan. [54:08] And this is what this price structure is. [54:10] This is what dynamic pricing is as well. [54:13] We had the Club World Cup last year. [54:16] The prices of some matches went up. [54:18] Others went down in this situation. [54:20] They could have gone down as well. [54:22] They didn't really go down. [54:23] This shows that maybe the price point was the right one. [54:29] As FIFA president, I have the statutory responsibility to generate the income which allows FIFA to invest in all of these countries where otherwise nobody would invest. [54:51] And I know that some people from some parts of the world maybe they don't care about that. [54:57] But at some stage we need to think as well of them. [55:02] And if nobody thinks of them, well, we do. [55:04] We do think of the majority that doesn't speak, that doesn't have voice, that doesn't have anything. [55:12] In FIFA they have a vote as well. [55:14] I've also heard saying, well, this money just goes to the federations to secure power or stuff like this. [55:24] Well, tell me, where should the money go otherwise? [55:28] Where? [55:30] To finance corrupt practices? [55:32] I don't think so. [55:33] It has to go to the federations. [55:36] It is checked and it is invested to give children hopes and dreams. [55:42] We are building 100 academies all over the world. [55:46] Again, in countries nobody puts their feet in. [55:50] And at some stage we have to accept as well that democracy is not just an empty world. [56:02] And if we accept democracy we have to accept the one member, one vote situation. [56:08] And that if we were putting on a vote certain things, well, they would go in a certain direction. [56:16] This is what makes FIFA different from anyone else. [56:23] I know that there was some medieval practice in some parts of the world, and you know which ones, [56:32] where rich people would have more votes than poor people. [56:36] I don't know if you would like, not you, but anyone would like to go back to that system. [56:44] Maybe some would like, well, it's not right. [56:48] It's not going to happen. [56:49] Thanks God, this is the medieval and we are now in the second, how do you call it, 21st century. [56:57] So we continue to invest. [57:01] We continue to thank everyone who helps us investing in football all over the world. [57:08] And we want to see players from all over the world playing. [57:11] In the Club World Cup last year, only in the final, [57:14] we had players from 16 different nationalities and five different continents playing. [57:20] This would be impossible without the World Cup, [57:25] without the revenues generated at the World Cup. [57:28] And it would be responsible if we don't generate the right revenues in this market, [57:38] as the right revenues in every market that we do. [57:41] Look at the debitants, Cape Verde. [57:44] Do you think Cape Verde would ever have the chance to qualify for a World Cup? [57:48] They qualified. [57:49] For them, it's maybe nobody cares about Cape Verde or Curaçao. [57:55] But for them, it's the most important thing in the world. [57:59] And for me as well, Haiti, they don't play in their home since five years. [58:04] Five years. [58:05] And they qualify to the World Cup. [58:09] I've been to see Haitian boys and girls in Miami. [58:14] I was in Haiti some years ago. [58:16] And to be able to give them this, this is priceless. [58:21] This priceless. [58:22] Thank you so much. [58:23] Okay. [58:25] Question over here at the front. [58:26] Gentleman with the glasses. [58:27] Hello. [58:28] Mehdi Foudi, for being in sports. [58:32] To diversify a little bit, I'm going to ask you the question in French, [58:35] after the English and Spanish. [58:36] Mr. [58:37] President, I think we haven't had enough difficulties [58:39] during the past edition of Qatar, [58:41] which was criticized even before the coup of envoy. [58:45] And at the end, it was established a very high standard [58:48] on the sport with a final considered [58:51] as one of the biggest in history, [58:53] with a global level level very salued. [58:55] But beyond the economic record [58:59] that this edition should naturally beat, [59:01] I would like to know [59:02] what are the advantages of success for the FIFA? [59:04] What would you like to see on the ground [59:07] to be able to say at the end [59:09] that this edition has surpassed that of Qatar? [59:12] Well, for this edition to be a success, [59:19] I think that [59:25] we need to be happy. [59:28] If we are able to make sure [59:33] that everything I said before, [59:34] I won't repeat everything I said before, [59:35] but that people can forget [59:38] for a moment, 90 minutes of a match, [59:41] the three matches, [59:42] the eighth quarter, [59:46] the mid-final, [59:47] the sixth quarter, [59:48] the final, [59:49] the final, [59:51] for 39 days, [59:52] they can forget a little bit [59:54] their problems [59:58] and have a topic of discussion [1:00:00] with their families, [1:00:01] with their children, [1:00:03] with their parents, [1:00:04] with their grandparents, [1:00:05] and that people are happy, [1:00:07] a little bit happy. [1:00:08] There, [1:00:09] it would have been a success. [1:00:11] After, [1:00:12] I hope, [1:00:13] of course, [1:00:14] to see incredible buts [1:00:16] on the ground, [1:00:18] to see the matchs [1:00:19] époustouflants, [1:00:20] all is done for, [1:00:22] clearly, [1:00:24] to have security [1:00:28] in the stadium, [1:00:29] to have no accidents, [1:00:30] it is crucial, [1:00:33] in the stadium, [1:00:34] but also in the cities. [1:00:37] Of course, [1:00:38] obviously, [1:00:39] one of the biggest challenges [1:00:40] of this Coupe du Monde [1:00:41] is the distance, [1:00:43] these three different countries, [1:00:45] everything in terms of [1:00:46] organization. [1:00:47] When I talk about [1:00:48] 300.000 people [1:00:50] who work on the Coupe du Monde, [1:00:52] I don't count all those [1:00:55] of the different governments [1:00:58] who work together, [1:00:59] in the three countries, [1:01:00] but also in the outside, [1:01:01] the corps of police, [1:01:02] the army, [1:01:03] etc. [1:01:04] they have to coordinate [1:01:05] so that it is [1:01:06] a Coupe du Monde [1:01:07] sure. [1:01:08] And, [1:01:09] to be sure, [1:01:10] I think, [1:01:11] if we can get [1:01:12] some of the polémiques [1:01:13] and work [1:01:14] on positive messages, [1:01:17] that would be great. [1:01:18] Thank you very much. [1:01:20] So, [1:01:22] Qatar is exceptional. [1:01:23] Okay, [1:01:24] over here. [1:01:28] The gentleman, [1:01:29] forward throw at the back. [1:01:30] Diego Macías, [1:01:37] de Olé, [1:01:38] de Argentina. [1:01:39] How are you? [1:01:40] First, [1:01:41] I want to give you the [1:01:42] thanks to Enrique Macaya [1:01:43] Márquez, [1:01:44] for a family. [1:01:45] I just wanted to thank you [1:01:47] for the message [1:01:48] with which you started the conversation. [1:01:51] And then, [1:01:52] for Argentina [1:01:53] was very important [1:01:54] the confirmation [1:01:55] of that Messi [1:01:56] was going to be [1:01:57] in the World. [1:01:58] For Argentina, [1:01:59] what is, [1:02:00] for the World, [1:02:01] that is Messi [1:02:02] as the Argentina [1:02:03] and its characteristics? [1:02:04] What? [1:02:06] What important is, [1:02:08] for the World, [1:02:09] beyond Argentina, [1:02:10] that is Messi [1:02:11] and how important [1:02:12] can be, [1:02:13] for that unity, [1:02:14] the Argentina [1:02:16] Well, [1:02:17] the Argentina [1:02:18] is absolutely [1:02:20] spectacular, [1:02:22] exceptional. [1:02:24] In the World, [1:02:25] in Qatar, [1:02:26] I remember [1:02:28] that two hours [1:02:29] after the part, [1:02:30] there were still [1:02:31] 20,000, [1:02:32] 30,000 Argentinians [1:02:33] in the stadium [1:02:34] to sing [1:02:36] boys [1:02:37] and all, [1:02:38] boys, [1:02:39] fantastic. [1:02:43] And, [1:02:44] the sport [1:02:45] in the World [1:02:46] is something [1:02:47] spectacular. [1:02:48] We also lived [1:02:49] last year [1:02:50] with the World, [1:02:51] the athletes [1:02:52] of River [1:02:53] and Boca, [1:02:54] spectacular. [1:02:56] I think [1:02:57] the aficion [1:02:58] of the selecciones [1:02:59] is more [1:03:00] familiar [1:03:01] because there are [1:03:02] parents [1:03:03] with children, [1:03:04] with women, [1:03:05] with families [1:03:06] that come. [1:03:08] And, [1:03:09] we are going to live [1:03:10] not only with the [1:03:11] aficion [1:03:12] argentina, [1:03:13] but with many, [1:03:14] many aficion [1:03:15] that will [1:03:16] enjoy [1:03:17] this [1:03:18] in the World. [1:03:19] Well, [1:03:20] the fact that [1:03:22] Messi, [1:03:23] that Leo Messi [1:03:24] play this [1:03:25] world, [1:03:26] it is, [1:03:27] of course, [1:03:28] very important [1:03:29] for the Argentina, [1:03:30] very important [1:03:32] for the people [1:03:33] who like football [1:03:34] for the world, [1:03:35] it is the same [1:03:36] with all [1:03:38] the great [1:03:39] players, [1:03:40] Ronaldo, [1:03:43] Mbappé, [1:03:44] Dembélé, [1:03:45] Haaland, [1:03:46] Yami, [1:03:47] todos, [1:03:48] y todos [1:03:50] los que [1:03:52] olvido que ahora [1:03:53] me vais a matar [1:03:54] porque se olvidó [1:03:55] de este o de este, [1:03:56] Harry Kane, [1:03:59] Brian Swanson, [1:04:02] Andy Robertson, [1:04:05] y todos, [1:04:07] no? [1:04:08] Cada uno [1:04:09] tiene su propio, [1:04:10] su propio ídolo, [1:04:12] mi ídolo [1:04:14] cuando era niño [1:04:15] y no le interesa a nadie [1:04:16] pero se lo digo [1:04:17] de todas maneras, [1:04:18] era Evaristo Beccalosi [1:04:20] que se murió [1:04:22] hace un par de semanas [1:04:24] y le doy un abrazo, [1:04:26] que para mí [1:04:28] hubiera tenido que jugar [1:04:29] titular [1:04:30] en la selección de Italia [1:04:31] en el 82, [1:04:32] nunca jugó [1:04:33] en la selección italiana [1:04:36] y Italia ganó el mundial [1:04:37] y lo celebramos [1:04:38] de toda manera [1:04:39] también con Paolo Rossi [1:04:40] al cual le doy también [1:04:41] un abrazo. [1:04:42] Gracias. [1:04:44] Ok, thanks. [1:04:45] Last question, [1:04:46] Wall Street Journal. [1:05:07] I wanted to ask [1:05:08] how you would characterize [1:05:09] the relationship [1:05:10] you've had [1:05:11] with President Trump, [1:05:12] the cooperation [1:05:13] or not [1:05:14] that you've gotten [1:05:15] from this administration [1:05:16] and the previous one [1:05:17] and lastly [1:05:19] how you would describe [1:05:22] what you've done [1:05:23] to keep President Trump [1:05:24] on side over the past year [1:05:27] including the FIFA Peace Prize. [1:05:29] Thanks for the question. [1:05:36] Well, you know, [1:05:37] I have a great relationship [1:05:40] with President Trump. [1:05:41] I'm very happy about that. [1:05:45] I got to know him [1:05:48] during his first mandate [1:05:50] and we have been working [1:05:55] very closely together now [1:05:57] in his second term. [1:05:59] Without his engagement [1:06:02] and his involvement [1:06:04] I think it would have been impossible [1:06:06] simply, [1:06:07] as simple as that, [1:06:08] it would have been impossible [1:06:09] to organize a World Cup [1:06:10] in the United States. [1:06:11] He understood immediately [1:06:17] the magnitude of the World Cup, [1:06:18] the impact of the World Cup [1:06:20] and instructed as well, [1:06:24] of course, [1:06:25] the administration [1:06:26] to help and assist. [1:06:29] Now, you're speaking [1:06:30] about the biggest power [1:06:31] in the world. [1:06:32] So, of course, [1:06:33] there are certain things [1:06:34] that have to be taken into account. [1:06:36] We've been discussing [1:06:37] about them earlier. [1:06:38] but to be able to exchange [1:06:45] with the President [1:06:46] on important topics [1:06:48] with his administration [1:06:49] to put everything on the table [1:06:52] without asking for anything [1:06:54] but trying to explain [1:06:56] I think is probably the key [1:06:59] to having a positive relationship. [1:07:07] That's the way I see it. [1:07:09] Okay, thanks. [1:07:12] Sorry? [1:07:13] That's it. [1:07:15] All for time, thank you. [1:07:16] That's how it's finished. [1:07:17] That's how it's finished. [1:07:18] Finished? [1:07:19] Okay, thank you. [1:07:20] Okay, mediatfifa.org [1:07:21] for any questions. [1:07:22] Otherwise, thank you [1:07:23] for your time [1:07:24] and enjoy the tournaments. [1:07:25] Thanks, everyone. [1:07:26] Thank you. [1:07:27] Enjoy the World Cup. [1:07:28] Enjoy the World Cup. [1:07:29] Thank you so much. [1:07:32] And don't give a hard time [1:07:33] to the two coaches [1:07:34] who will come afterwards.