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FIFA leadership and global football development

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2026-10-17 13:12 UTC → 2026-10-18 16:19 UTC · added ~~removed~~

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been the subject of both praise and scrutiny regarding his leadership and organizational management. Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis offered a mixed assessment, noting that while he previously felt a “strong urge to criticize Infantino,” the management and stadium organization of the recent World Cup were impressive. In the Czech Republic, Infantino met with officials from the Football Association of the Czech Republic (FAČR) and government ministers to discuss football development projects funded by the FIFA Forward program. These initiatives include infrastructure, youth programs, and women’s football. However, the visit highlighted internal divisions within FAČR; while some officials support the pragmatic benefits of FIFA cooperation, others expressed concerns regarding the potential impact on relations with UEFA amid ongoing tensions over the FIFA Forward Enterprise project. Expanding his focus on to regional development, Infantino ~~recently~~ pledged increased support for African football during a CAF strategic conference in Cape Verde. Highlighting the progress of African nations in World Cup qualification, he emphasized the need for improved infrastructure to ensure nations can host international matches within their own borders. He noted Verde, noting that ~~through the~~ FIFA ~~Forward program, FIFA~~ has invested $1 billion into 124 projects across the continent over the last decade. Most recently, Infantino traveled to Rabat, Morocco, ~~to attend~~ for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. ~~Commending~~ He commended Morocco’s capacity to host major ~~international~~ events, ~~he described~~ describing the tournament as a celebration of values ~~such as peace, solidarity,~~ like peace and ~~inclusion. He emphasized football’s role as a universal language,~~ inclusion, stating, “We are here to spread hope and to include everyone.” During a stopover in Dhaka, Bangladesh, while traveling from Morocco to Bhutan, Infantino met with Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) President Tabith Ahsan. He expressed intentions to support the nation’s football infrastructure, including men’s and women’s programs and school-based initiatives. Discussions focused on establishing a training center and academy in the southern region, alongside projects such as installing a hybrid pitch in Sylhet and renovating federation-managed stadiums.

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