BRASILIA – Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, emphasized the relevance of the 2026 World Cup as a unifying event globally. Amidst debates about a possible boycott of the tournament, due to the US government’s immigration policies, Infantino met with the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, at the Planalto Palace.
Infantino highlighted the unprecedented interest in the 2026 World Cup, jointly organized by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. More than 500 million ticket requests have been registered, a record figure for the tournament. Faced with calls for a boycott, Infantino responded that football is a collective celebration.Football, in both its men’s and women’s versions, should serve to unite people and nations.
Gianni Infantino
The leader also highlighted the need to strengthen ties between nations, especially in an international context marked by political tensions. The 2026 World Cup, which will be played between June and July, will be the largest in history, with 48 teams, 104 matches and 16 venues in Canada, Mexico and the United States. This competition will mark the return of the World Cup to U.S. territory since 1994.People want to go, they will go, and they will celebrate together. We always celebrate football together.
Gianni Infantino
