Time for a recap. On Sunday, Spain won its second World Cup title at MetLife Stadium, in the suburbs of New York, against Argentina. The conclusion of a historic tournament, which hosted more teams than ever before (48). Gianni Infantino is adamant: This World Cup has exceeded all expectations. It is not only the greatest World Cup of all time. It is also the greatest human, social, and cultural event the world has ever seen. "A somewhat exaggerated statement, even if FIFA has reason to be pleased."
"The world won, America won, FIFA won."
With over six and a half million people in stadiums across Mexico, Canada, and the United States, The attendance record has been shattered.The previous record was set during the 1994 World Cup, also held in the United States, with 3,5 million spectators. The quality of the stadiums was universally praised, the television ratings were excellent, and more than 8,5 million people visited the FIFA Fan Festivals in the three host countries. Images of the fans celebrating together, particularly in Times Square, were seen around the world.
The FIFA president also believes that the experiment with its 48-team format has been a success. More countries can believe, more children can keep hope alive, and more opportunities are available for the entire world to participate in international football, the universal sport. What do those who claimed that the presence of 48 teams would dilute the quality of the FIFA World Cup have to say? In reality, it has made it much stronger. " he explained on Saturday.
In summary? The world won, America won, FIFA won. Uniting the world as we did this summer, creating unforgettable moments for millions, billions of people across the globe, is an accomplishment we will cherish forever. " Infantino remarked before the final. The new rules introduced by FIFA to limit time-wasting and make the game flow more smoothly (countdown timer for substitutions and throw-ins, VAR's rapid intervention if a corner is wrongly awarded, etc.) also represent significant progress, which will very likely be introduced in other competitions.
The Omar Artan and Folarin Balogun controversies
The picture is not without its dark spots, however. The United States refused entry to Somali referee Omar Artan, who was unable to fulfill the role for which FIFA had selected him. Fans, such as those from Ivory Coast, also had to abandon their dream of following their team due to immigration restrictions. Economic obstacles also arose, as this World Cup was the most expensive in history in terms of ticket sales.
The suspension of American striker Folarin Balogun was bizarrely overturned before the match against Belgium, sparking widespread outrage. Questions of integrity and political interference were raised: President Donald Trump directly called Gianni Infantino to tell him that the player did not deserve to miss the next match. According to the TimesThe FIFA disciplinary committee was not consulted, and its chairman, Mohammad Al-Kamali, made the decision unilaterally. A complaint was filed by the NGO FairSquare with the IOC, citing the rules of neutrality and fair play.
The systematic use of water breaks also gave the impression of relegating sporting interest to the background, since the game was even interrupted when the weather conditions were not particularly hot. Last but not least The coming months will give us more information about the dramatic carbon footprint of the tournament, organized across three countries and relying heavily on air travel. FIFA is enthusiastic, but in reality, the picture is much more nuanced.
