On Wednesday, FIFA unveiled the format of the 2026 World Cup, and on Thursday made another big announcement: the world forum has elected its “new president”.

FIFAPhoto: Budrul Chukrut/SOPA Images / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia

Gianni Infantino, FIFA president for the third time

Gianni Infantino was re-elected on Thursday by acclamation as the president of the International Football Federation (FIFA) for a new mandate, valid until 2027, during the 73rd Congress of this organization, which is being held in Kigali, Rwanda, AFP reports, citing Agerpres.

At the age of 52, the Italian-Swiss led FIFA in 2016 after the resignation of his predecessor, Sepp Blatter, and was re-confirmed in 2019 on the same terms by delegates from the 211 national member federations. .

He could remain president of the international federation until 2031, as his first three-year term was deemed incomplete.

“To all those who love me, I know there are many of you, and to those who hate me … I love you all,” the world football leader told the standing crowd, but the voting system did not allow the dissenters to be counted. of voices

To Gianni Infantino’s credit, he can demonstrate a solid financial balance with an 18% increase in revenue and a 45% increase in reserves over the 2019-2022 cycle compared to the previous one, allowing FIFA to further increase subsidies to confederations and confederations. .

As for the board, its last mandate has been marked by major transfer reforms, the introduction of maternity leave for professional players and more protective disciplinary procedures for victims of sexual abuse.

Major projects for the coming years have been approved, starting with the expansion of the men’s World Cup from 32 to 48 teams, starting with the 2026 edition, which is co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, was approved in 2017 and the format was set for Tuesday.

With a 12-team, four-team group stage, the 2026 tournament will increase from 64 to 104 matches, leading to a dramatic increase in ticket revenue as well as attracting more broadcasters.

More delicately, FIFA also decided on December 16 to expand the Club World Cup from its annual seven-team format to a 32-team competition to be played every four years starting in 2025. A project that its manager has been trying to implement for years to compete with the lucrative UEFA Champions League, but which is difficult to fit into the calendar.