Gianni Infantino labels Qatar 2022 a "fantastic success"
Despite the controversies and criticisms the FIFA president encounters, Infantino believes the 2022 World Cup has been a great success, as no team achieved nine points in the group stage, believing the tournament was competitive.
The tournament started with controversies around the dispute due to the
OneLove
campaign and the working situation of the World Cup preparation. However, believing this was the most competitive World Cup Group Stage he saw in history, he labeled it as a fantastic success.
Speaking on the first rest day of the World Cup,
Infantino
said:
"I have seen all the matches, indeed, and put very simply and very clearly, this has been the best group stage of a FIFA World Cup ever.
"So, it's very promising for the remainder of the FIFA World Cup.
"The matches have been of great, great quality in beautiful stadiums – we knew that already. However, as well, the public who was there was incredible. Over 51,000 on average.
"Record-breaking figures on TV – we already had over two billion viewers, which is really incredible.
"Two and a half million people in the streets of Doha and a few hundred thousand every day in the stadiums, all together, cheering together, supporting their teams, fantastic atmosphere, great goals, incredible excitement and surprises."
Discussing the surprising results such as
Germany's
elimination, Infantino said:
"There are no more small teams and no more big teams. The level is very, very equal.
"For the first time as well, national teams from all continents going to the knock-out phase, for the first time in history. This shows that football is really becoming truly global.
"We hope that the FIFA World Cup continues and concludes as it has started – a fantastic success. I am sure that we will reach the five billion viewers around the world.
"When it comes to stadium attendances, the stadiums are sold out, full practically at every match. The fan festivals, the different fan zones, are also very crowded with people celebrating and enjoying [themselves].
"And at the end [of the day], we simply want to give some joy and some smiles to people all over the world. That's what football is about, that's what the FIFA World Cup is about, and that's what should also happen from now until the end."
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