FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Thursday stirred reactions during his address at the World Economic Forum after making a tongue-in-cheek remark about the conduct of British football supporters at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Infantino, while speaking to an audience of world leaders and business figures, reflected on the Qatar tournament and said there were “virtually no incidents” once the competition began.
Highlighting what he described as a rare outcome, he said:
“For the first time in history, no Brit was arrested during a World Cup. Imagine! This is something really, really special.”
The comment, intended as a light-hearted joke about the long-standing reputation of English fans at major tournaments, quickly drew attention from fans and the media and was widely shared.
Infantino also used the platform to speak about the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, describing the tournament as a “celebration” and a “party” that would unite people in joy both on and off the pitch.
He acknowledged the widespread criticism over ticket prices for the 2026 finals, admitting frankly that “the tickets are not cheap” and revealing that he had been “hammered” over the issue during the Davos meeting.
According to FIFA figures cited in his address, the organisation received more than 500 million ticket requests in the latest application window, a level of demand Infantino described as “incredible.”
Elijah Adeyemi
