Determined not to let the trees hide the forest, Infantino took to social media with a congratulatory—some might say commiserative—message for the runners-up, who now turn their sights to the future and the 2030 World Cup, where Argentina’s starting XI may be without Messi.

“What an incredible FIFA World Cup for Argentina! Unforgettable comebacks and a fighting spirit inspired millions and gave football fans around the world moments they will never forget,” Infantino wrote on his Instagram account.

“Returning to the FIFA World Cup Final after lifting the trophy in 2022 is a testament to your lasting excellence. Thank you for helping make this World Cup so special and for competing with such passion until the end.”

Infantino’s message timing

Infantino’s message congratulating Argentina comes at an opportune moment. It arrived amid worldwide criticism aimed at the national team—which Alexis Mac Allister ironically thanked after the 2026 World Cup.

Meanwhile another household name on the team, Rodrigo De Paul, took aim at conspiracists after the final. Instead, Infantino shined a light on the things Argentina did right rather than focusing on the controversies, most of which extended beyond Messi and his fellow countrymen’s control.

Infantino’s message for Spain

Before conspiracists cling to the message for Messi and Argentina to promote the idea that FIFA president Gianni Infantino favored La Albiceleste, it’s worth noting that he dedicated a post to each of the top four teams in the 2026 World Cup final standings.

“Sixteen years after lifting the trophy in South Africa, Spain are FIFA World Cup champions once again,” Infantino congratulated Spain. “Football has a new golden chapter to celebrate, and this achievement will be remembered for generations. Celebrate with your families, your supporters and your nation. You have earned your place in football history.”

Born in Brig, Switzerland, Infantino has combined a legal background with decades of experience in sports administration. Before becoming FIFA president, he spent more than 15 years at UEFA, including nearly seven years as the organization’s General Secretary.

His presidency has brought major changes to international soccer, from expanding the FIFA World Cup to 48 teams to launching a revamped FIFA Club World Cup, while also drawing criticism over governance decisions and FIFA’s growing commercial influence.

How old is Gianni Infantino?

Gianni Infantino is 56 years old. He was born on March 23, 1970, in Brig, Switzerland, to Italian parents. He earned a law degree from the University of Fribourg before beginning his career in sports administration.

Prior to joining UEFA, he worked as General Secretary of the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES), helping establish the foundation for his rise within international soccer governance.

What is Gianni Infantino’s nationality?

Infantino holds Swiss, Italian, and Lebanese citizenship. Although he was born and raised in Switzerland, his family has Italian roots, and he later also obtained Lebanese citizenship through his family heritage.

He is also known for his multilingual abilities, speaking Italian, French, German, English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Arabic, allowing him to communicate directly with federations from around the world.

Gianni Infantino’s biggest achievements as FIFA president

Since taking office in 2016, Infantino has overseen several of the most significant changes in modern FIFA history. Among his biggest initiatives was the expansion of the FIFA World Cup from 32 to 48 teams, beginning with the 2026 tournament, increasing the competition to 104 matches and introducing a new Round of 32.

He also led the creation of the expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup, while significantly increasing FIFA’s commercial revenues and expanding investment through the FIFA Forward Programme, which distributes funding to all 211 member associations to support football development.

Infantino’s administration also introduced the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system into FIFA competitions, reformed parts of the international transfer system, and expanded both men’s and women’s FIFA tournaments.

Why has Infantino’s presidency generated criticism?

Despite FIFA’s financial growth and tournament expansion, Infantino’s presidency has also faced criticism. Some critics argue that FIFA has become increasingly centralized under his leadership, pointing to the organization’s control over funding distribution and governance decisions. Others have questioned rising ticket prices, controversial disciplinary rulings, and FIFA’s growing commercial priorities.

Supporters, meanwhile, credit Infantino with stabilizing FIFA following the corruption scandals that preceded his election in 2016, while expanding opportunities for more nations to compete on the world’s biggest stage.

The idea comes after the successful expansion of the 2026 World Cup to 48 teams, a format that brought more nations into the tournament and increased global participation.

Infantino’s comments suggest that FIFA is considering another major step toward making the World Cup even more inclusive in future editions. It would be a historic decision.

Is a 64-team World Cup possible?

Yes. Speaking to Blue Sport, Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, emphasized the importance of giving more nations the opportunity to dream about qualifying for the World Cup.

“That’s definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup. When organizing a World Cup, it’s important to organize it for the whole world, not just Europe and South America, but effectively the entire world. Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup. You can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high.”

Where will the 2030 World Cup be held?

The 2030 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to be hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. In addition, special opening matches will be played in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay to commemorate the centenary of the first World Cup, which was held in Uruguay in 1930.

Why is FIFA considering expanding World Cup to 64 teams?

One of the main reasons for considering a 64-team tournament is to simplify the competition format and avoid some of the criticisms directed at the 2026 edition in North America.

The 2026 World Cup introduced a 48-team format that required selecting the eight best third-place teams to complete the Round of 32. Critics argued that this system allowed many teams to know results early while teams playing earlier had a disadvantage. With 64 teams, FIFA could organize the tournament into 16 groups of four teams, with the top two teams from each group advancing directly to the Round of 32.

2030 World Cup: How would the 64-team format work?

Under the proposed 64-team format, the 2030 World Cup would likely consist of 16 groups of four teams. Each team would play three group-stage matches, and the top two teams from each group would advance to the knockout stage.

This structure would eliminate the need for ranking third-place teams and create a more straightforward path to the Round of 32. The format would also significantly increase the number of participating nations, giving more countries the chance to compete on soccer’s biggest stage.

For now, FIFA has not made a final decision, but Gianni Infantino’s comments confirm that the possibility of a 64-team World Cup is being seriously considered.

“I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues. During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies,” Infantino stated, confirming the high-level dialogue.

Infantino went on to distance his executive office from the controversial ruling, emphasizing that disciplinary adjustments fall outside his purview. “FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations,” he wrote.

Closing his statement, the FIFA chief urged the global soccer community to respect the verdict, acknowledging the naturally polarizing nature of such high-stakes decisions. “Sometimes I am surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree. What I always do, however, is respect those decisions and the autonomy of the bodies that make them,“ Infantino added.

Belgian FA expresses ‘deep concern’ over overturned ban

The Royal Belgian Football Association did not hold back in the wake of FIFA’s sudden U-turn, releasing a pointed statement expressing “deeply concern” over the governing body’s opaque disciplinary procedures in the eleventh hour before kickoff.

Adding fuel to the fire, Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia took a sarcastic tone during his pre-match press conference, mocking the distraction just as kit assignments were finalized for today’s blockbuster clash.

USA camp react, led by Trump and Pochettino

The controversy only intensified after Trump publicly touted his communication with Infantino regarding Balogun‘s red card, transforming a sporting disciplinary matter into a full-blown geopolitical talking point.

On the pitch, USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino openly celebrated the decision to reinstate his star striker. Balogun’s availability is a massive boost for an American frontline that has relied heavily on his elite production throughout the tournament.

With captain Christian Pulisic also publicizing his support for the ruling, the USMNT is channeling the outside noise as motivation. However, the unprecedented bureaucratic drama ensures that today’s high-stakes knockout match will be played under a heavy cloud of scrutiny.

“Yeah, I did. I spoke to Gianni,” Trump started during a press conference. “That wasn’t a foul. That wasn’t even an infraction. That was two guys running full speed who happened to crash into each other. You can’t properly place your foot on somebody else’s foot when you’re going full speed. No, these were two great athletes who got tangled up.”

The President of the United States also directed criticism at referee Raphael Claus, questioning the decision to send off one of his team’s key players. “And this referee, who is a little bit suspect—if you check his past. . . He (Balogun) didn’t do anything wrong, and he’s our best player, or one of our best players—a very vital player—and they gave him a red card.“

Will Folarin Balogun play vs. Belgium?

Following the news of the reversal of Folarin Balogun’s red card suspension, one of those who celebrated the decision was Mauricio Pochettino, who will now be able to count on the forward for the match against Belgium.

Although there has been no official confirmation of the starting XI the manager will field at Seattle Stadium, the top scorer—who currently has three goals—will likely start the match for the USMNT.

Belgium’s complaint over decision

Folarin Balogun was sent off during the Round of 32 match against Bosnia & Herzegovina, so he was expected to serve a one-match suspension, which was supposed to be served in the Round of 16.

After reviewing the situation, FIFA decided to overturn the suspension, something that manager Rudi Garcia described as a joke. “I didn’t know that at the World Cup the 5th of July is actually the first of April. It’s April Fools,” he said to the press. “We’re not defending the national team or federation, we are defending football.”

The Belgian federation also expressed its concern regarding the situation, arguing that governing officials intentionally intervened in the disciplinary process while failing to provide adequate legal justification.

It was a “no están solos” chant. This translates to “you’re not alone.” The chant was made in support of Venezuela, a country in South America that has been affected massively by earthquakes in recent days. Even FIFA President Gianni Infantino joined the fans.

Hence, it was the whole Azteca Stadium proclaiming their support for a fellow nation. Subsequently, the teams sang their anthems and the game kicked off normally. It’s uplifting to see the fans’ energy despite the Mexico vs Ecuador game getting delayed by weather.

Venezuela’s earthquake toll

In what has become a really tragic event, it’s been reported by UNICEF that the death toll has surpassed 2,000 people. Also, more than two million require aid of some kind. While there is support shown in the 2026 World Cup, it remains to be seen if FIFA takes additional steps to help.

After all, FIFA has been known to aid in some humanitarian crisis. This moment personally struck Gianni Infantino, which might prompt him to make moves towards helping the cause.

FIFA has precedents aiding in instances like Venezuela’s

FIFA has a history of directly responding to natural disasters and conflicts. For example, the organization donated millions in immediate aid to earthquake victims in Turkiye and Syria. They also launched an initial allocation to assist displaced people in Sudan.

FIFA established the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund to raise $100 million targeting poverty and access to quality education for children globally. Hence, there is a probability that FIFA takes some of this funds to help in Venezuela.

According to data from BBC Sport and our own tracking at Bolavip, Infantino has attended 32 matches as of July 3 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It’s been a pretty impressive feat. The expectation is that he could reach 40 matches if possible.

The frantic pace of his multi-city tour concluded its group stage run in Miami, where he watched Portugal play Colombia. This finalized a heavy schedule that saw him jump from stadium to stadium before the knockout rounds even began.

What was the most recent match Infantino attended?

Infantino recently attended the thrilling match between Switzerland and Algeria, which was the final game on July 2. He sat next to the president of the Algerian Football Federation, Walid Sadi, and Swiss politician Guy Parmelin.

BBC Sport reports that the private jet linked to Infantino logged at least 31,144 miles and spent over 66 hours airborne across 27 distinct flights. Operating a massive Gulfstream G650ER, the aircraft burned through an estimated 1,817 liters of fuel per hour to keep up with his packed calendar.

While official financial figures remain private, operating a luxury aircraft of this caliber for dozens of hours easily climbs deep into six-figure territory. This heavy flying generated roughly 500+ tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent, a huge environmental footprint.

Is constant stadium hopping truly necessary for the FIFA chief?

FIFA defended the strategy by stating that the president routinely travels with officials to efficiently engage with member associations during major tournaments. They emphasized that private charters are only utilized when commercial options prove ineffective for his demanding schedule.

This Tuesday, during his appearance at the Milken Institute Global Conference, Infantino said that this type of astronomical demand reflects the expectation generated by the World Cup. “If some people put some tickets for the final on the resale market at two million dollars, first of all, that does not mean that the tickets cost two million,” Infantino said. “And secondly, it does not mean that someone is going to buy those tickets.”

“And if someone does, I will personally bring them a hot dog and a Coca-Cola to make sure they have a great experience,” Infantino said, but he also made it clear that the market must be analyzed. “We have to look at the market. We are in the market with the most developed entertainment in the world. So we have to apply market rates,” Infantino said.

The comparison with other sports by Infantino

Connecting with the statement about looking at the market, he referenced groups of fans who have also protested the cost differences compared to the previous World Cup in Qatar 2022, where final tickets were priced at $1,600 in official sales, compared to around $11,000 in 2026.

Infantino also recalled that FIFA received more than 500 million ticket requests for 2026, compared to fewer than 50 million combined for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

The executive estimated that 25% of group stage tickets were priced below 300 dollars. “You cannot go to watch a college game in the United States, let alone a big professional game of a certain level, for less than 300 dollars,” Infantino said. “And this is the World Cup.”

A very controversial situation that will continue to generate discussion, with prices so high for certain matches that, for the spectator, it will probably not be a good idea to attend, and we could see empty stadiums with low attendance for what the World Cup represents.

In a recent interview with Diario AS, Infantino pointed to Spain as the team to beat, citing their status as the No. 1 team in the world. The squad led by Luis de la Fuente currently sits atop the FIFA World Rankings with 1,877.18 points, followed closely by Argentina with 1,873.33 units.

“Spain are one of the favorites, along with others, of course. We already know Spain’s strength. The number-one team in the ranking has to be the favorite for the World Cup,” the FIFA president revealed.

Both nations are in peak form, validating their high rankings. Spain captured UEFA Euro 2024 after defeating England 2-1 in the final, while Argentina secured the 2024 Copa America with a 1-0 win over Colombia.

Ahead of the World Cup, the two sides are scheduled to face off in the 2026 Finalissima on March 27 in Qatar. However, the location has yet to be officially confirmed due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East; the venue could be decided this week following a meeting between UEFA, Conmebol and Qatari government.

Spain and Argentina facing injury crisis ahead of 2026 Finalissima

As both nations prepare for the highly anticipated 2026 Finalissima and the upcoming World Cup, Spain and Argentina are grappling with a significant number of injuries to key personnel. The fitness of these squads has become a primary concern for managers Luis de la Fuente and Lionel Scaloni just weeks before their clash in Qatar.

Spain received a major blow on March 3 when Alejandro Balde sustained a distal hamstring injury during Barcelona’s Copa del Rey semifinal against Atletico Madrid. Official medical reports from the club indicate that the left-back will be sidelined for approximately four weeks, effectively ruling him out of the March 27 final.

The injury list doesn’t end there. Mikel Merino (foot fracture) and Samu Omorodion (ACL tear) have already been ruled out for the tournament. Meanwhile, Nico Williams remains a major doubt; the winger has not featured for Athletic Club since February 11 due to a persistent groin issue.

Argentina are facing a similar crisis. Paulo Dybala has been officially ruled out of the Finalissima after undergoing knee surgery to repair a lateral meniscus tear. He joins Valentin Carboni, who suffered a devastating season-ending injury involving a complete rupture of the ACL and a partial rupture of the LCL and Juan Foyth, who is sidelined after rupturing his Achilles tendon.

Furthermore, Lisandro Martinez is currently being monitored for soleus muscle discomfort, Giovani Lo Celso is battling a moderate myotendinous injury in his right thigh and Lautaro Martinez is undergoing intensive rehabilitation for a left calf strain in hopes of being fit for the Finalissima.

The episode initially led to UEFA action, suspending Prestianni for one match and preventing him from participating in the second leg at Santiago Bernabeu. Meanwhile, an institutional investigation was launched and remains ongoing. Infantino has now weighed in and delivered his verdict in recent hours, calling for automatic red cards for any player who covers their mouth while speaking on the field in a similar context.

“If a player covers their mouth and says something, and that has a racist consequence, then they have to be sent off, obviously,” the Swiss executive said in remarks to Sky News.

Infantino also added that action should follow a presumption of wrongdoing: “It must exist, because a player has said something they should not have said. Otherwise, you wouldn’t cover your mouth, you have nothing to hide. I just don’t understand it.”

Why implement this measure?

The Prestianni case originated after the Champions League match between Benfica and Real Madrid. Vinicius reported that Prestianni called him “m*nk**” following his goal celebration, triggering UEFA’s immediate anti-racism protocol.

However, the exchange could not be verified because the young Argentine had covered his mouth during the interaction. This factor made the incident subject to further review.

Although Prestianni repeatedly denied the accusation, UEFA suspended him provisionally and barred him from playing in the second leg. The investigation remains open.

In parallel, the International Football Association Board addressed the matter at its most recent meeting. If the proposal advances, the aim is for the new rule to take effect starting with the 2026 World Cup.

Recent events in the country have sparked questions about security and organization ahead of the global event. As preparations continue, FIFA has remained in close contact with Mexican authorities while monitoring the situation.

In an interview conducted in Spanish with the Colombian Football Federation, Gianni Infantino addressed the matter directly and made FIFA’s position clear. “First of all, of course we are analyzing and monitoring the situation in Mexico at this time,” he said. “But from the beginning, we have full confidence in Mexico, in its President Sheinbaum, and in the authorities. We are convinced that everything will go in the best possible way.”

Infantino added that Mexico is a great soccer nation and that challenges happen everywhere in the world. “We don’t live on the moon or on another planet — things happen,” he said. “That’s why we have states, police forces, and authorities who guarantee order and security. From my side and from FIFA, there is absolute confidence in President Sheinbaum in Mexico. We are in regular contact with the presidency and the authorities, and we continue to follow the situation closely.”

Confidence in Mexican leadership

The FIFA president emphasized that the organization remains in constant communication with President Claudia Sheinbaum and national officials. He reiterated that upcoming World Cup playoff matches in Mexico will proceed as planned, at a time when Mexico’s president has also recently clarified Guadalajara’s status as a 2026 World Cup venue.

Mexico’s central role in 2026

Mexico will host key fixtures during the 2026 World Cup cycle, and the reopening of Estadio Azteca stands as a symbolic milestone in the country’s preparations. With FIFA publicly backing Mexican authorities, organizational efforts continue as the tournament draws closer.