NEW YORK (AP) — FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarded as world cup It said it was a success on Friday, and the convention had accomplished its mission of uniting people around the world.
Infantino spoke as part of a day-long session at the United Nations about how the game can promote mental health among young people. He brought to the stage one of the official match balls used in Sunday’s World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, calling it “a magical object that has the power to unite the world.”
“You hear over and over again that we live in a divided world, we live in an aggressive world, there are a lot of things that divide us and cause problems,” Infantino said. “But we also know. And if there’s one thing this World Cup has shown us and shown us, we know that there is much more that unites us than what divides us.”
This was the largest World Cup in history, with 48 teams qualifying and matches taking place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. FIFA announced that stadiums were essentially full for each of the 102 matches played so far. The remaining two games are Saturday’s third-place match between France and England in Miami Gardens, Florida, followed by Sunday’s final in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Despite concerns months ago that high ticket prices and immigration issues would prevent fans from coming to North America for the games, total attendance for the tournament is expected to be around 6.7 million in the end, a World Cup record.
“Over the past month and a half, we have seen millions of people gather in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and all parts of the world who want to come together peacefully and joyfully, spend time together, and celebrate moments of community,” Infantino said. “This is the most powerful message yet, and this is the foundational message on which to build our future, the future of our community and the future of unity.”
Although there were no serious security incidents at the Games as some had feared, geopolitical discomfort and controversy were notable. of iran team Infantino faced onerous travel restrictions due to the United States being at war with the United States, and narrowly lost in the group stage. Infantino faced global criticism after lifting up American star players. Folarin Balogun receives red card and suspension At the request of President Donald Trump. The British government then requested FIFA to: Investigate Argentina’s soccer team After the semi-final victory over England, players posed with a banner asserting sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.
Infantino assured the United Nations that he and FIFA were “fully supportive” of youth mental health issues and said the issue should be taken seriously.
But he pointed to these games as examples of how sport can act as a bridge across linguistic, cultural, political and other barriers.
“In two days we will know who will be the world champion, Spain or Argentina,” Infantino said. “But what we already know, my dear friends, is that football is not just the most popular sport in the world, it is definitely so common that it has become a universal language that everyone speaks because everyone wants to unite.”
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