Governing Bodies
Infantino marks 10 years as FIFA President, hails reforms and global expansion of the game
Gianni Infantino has marked the 10th anniversary of his election as FIFA President by declaring that “we have brought football back to FIFA and FIFA back to football,” while thanking the organisation’s 211 member associations for their support over the past decade.
In a letter sent to the presidents of all 211 member associations, Infantino reflected on his election at the Extraordinary Congress in Zurich, Switzerland, on 26 February 2016, recalling that FIFA was facing a crisis that threatened its very existence at the time.
“By voting for me, the FIFA Congress chose to chart a new path forward built on reform, transparency and development,” he wrote. “I believe we have successfully brought football back to FIFA and FIFA back to football. And we have done so together.”
Infantino stressed that unity between FIFA and its Member Associations had been central to the organisation’s transformation.
“It is therefore with a great sense of unity that I would like to extend my deepest thanks for your work, your dedication and, of course, your unwavering support in making this possible and for your role in bringing FIFA back to football over the last 10 years,” he said.
Describing FIFA as “the glue that binds the footballing pyramid and the wider footballing ecosystem together,” Infantino underlined the importance of a strong and trusted governing body for the continued growth of the sport.
“A strong, trusted and unified FIFA is not only desirable, but also in fact necessary for our sport to continue to flourish,” he added. “Although we live in a world marked by division and conflict, football is still the great power that unites us all.”
Key achievements highlighted
In his message, the FIFA President outlined 11 major achievements since 2016, beginning with increased financial support to Member Associations through the FIFA Forward Programme. Introduced in 2016, funding to MAs has increased sevenfold, with associations empowered to determine how best to invest in football development within their territories.
He also pointed to the FIFA Talent Development Scheme, designed to ensure that every young player has the opportunity to develop regardless of financial background or geography, alongside enhanced capacity building in administration, finance, infrastructure, medical services, safeguarding and women’s leadership.
Infantino noted greater involvement of Member Associations in decision-making through FIFA Executive Summits and newly introduced Standing Committees, as well as reforms aimed at boosting transparency, including annual accounts delivered under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and clearer bidding processes for major tournaments.
On the field, the introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in 2018 — now implemented in 83 Member Associations — was cited as a key step towards greater fairness. FIFA has since introduced VAR Light and Football Video Support to widen access to video technology. In 2024, all 211 MAs also unanimously backed a Global Stand Against Racism initiative.
Infantino further highlighted expanded playing opportunities across competitions. The FIFA World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams, while the FIFA Women’s World Cup grew to 32 teams in 2023 and is set to expand to 48 from 2031. More than 1,700 women’s development projects have been delivered across 204 Member Associations.
Youth competitions have also been broadened, including the expansion of the FIFA U-17 World Cup for both boys and girls and the introduction of a new festival-style FIFA U-15 Youth World Cup open to all 211 MAs.
The letter referenced relief measures during times of hardship, notably the COVID-19 Relief Plan, which made USD 1.5 billion available, emergency disaster funding via the FIFA Foundation, and a post-conflict recovery fund approved in December 2025 to support football communities affected by war.
At club level, Infantino highlighted the historic first 32-team FIFA Club World Cup in 2025, the new FIFA Women’s Club World Cup planned for 2028, and the launch of annual intercontinental competitions and an expanded FIFA Club Benefits Programme.
Concluding his message, Infantino reiterated his gratitude to Member Associations for “keeping the best interests of football at heart,” expressing confidence that a united global football community would continue to drive the sport’s growth in the years ahead.
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Governing Bodies
Diplomat, Akpenpuun Completes CAF–WAFU Zone B General Coordinators Course in Benin Republic
Robert Terlumun Akpenpuun, a former Nigeria Premier League match commissioner and protocol officer with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has completed the CAF–WAFU Zone B General Coordinators Training Course held in Porto Novo, Benin Republic.
Akpenpuun, an Assistant Comptroller with the Nigerian Immigration Service currently on diplomatic assignment at the Nigerian Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire, was among five NFF personnel nominated to participate in the programme by the President of WAFU Zone B, Ibrahim Musa Gusau.
He commended Gusau for the opportunity, describing the training as a valuable platform for professional development and regional collaboration.
The course, facilitated by Moroccan instructor Mustapha Slaoui, brought together participants from seven West African countries. Each nation was represented by four delegates, evenly split along gender lines, underscoring a commitment to inclusivity in football administration.
All the participants, including the President of the Benin Republic football federation and the course coordinator, Mustapha Slaoui.
Also present at the programme was the Executive Director of WAFU Zone B, Philip Tchere.
Strengthening Match Operations
General coordinators play a pivotal but often unseen role in continental football competitions, ensuring seamless organisation and compliance with regulations during matches.
The training covered key aspects of the profession, including the strategic role of the general coordinator within the competition framework, mastery of CAF regulations and procedures, operational match management, leadership and communication, administrative reporting, and multi-stakeholder coordination.
Course instructor, Morocco’s Mustapha Slaoui is flanked by WAFU Zone B Executive Director, Philip Tchere (Left) and Nigeria’s Robert Akpenpuun
The course combined theoretical instruction with practical simulations, exposing participants to real-world scenarios aimed at embedding standardised protocols in professional practice.
CAF’s Governance Drive
Beyond technical instruction, the initiative reflects the Confederation of African Football’s broader ambition to harmonise operational standards and enhance governance across the region.
By investing in the capacity-building of match officials and administrators, CAF aims to elevate the credibility, efficiency and professionalism of competitions within WAFU Zone B and across the continent.
For Akpenpuun, whose career has spanned match commissioning, federation protocol duties and diplomatic service, the programme adds another layer of expertise as African football continues to professionalise its administrative structures.
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The president of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football, Fouzi Lekjaa, has described the past decade under Gianni Infantino as a period of “quiet revolution” and structural transformation in world football.
In a video message shared on the Moroccan national team’s official social media platforms to mark the tenth anniversary of Infantino’s election on February 26, 2016, Lekjaa praised what he termed a comprehensive overhaul of global football governance.
“Generally speaking, we are witnessing a quiet revolution in world football — a transformation of FIFA,” Lekjaa said. “What Gianni Infantino has achieved is tremendous. It represents a complete transformation of the organisation.”
Governance and Financial Reform
Lekjaa highlighted reforms in governance and financial transparency as central pillars of the transformation. According to him, restructuring efforts within FIFA have significantly multiplied revenues and strengthened accountability mechanisms.
He noted that the increase in resources has enabled development programmes to expand across continents, with funding for infrastructure, training and grassroots initiatives “doubling and even tripling” in some regions.
The Moroccan FA president emphasised that African federations, including the FRMF, have directly benefited from these expanded development allocations, accelerating progress in stadium construction, academy systems and technical supervision.
Expanding the Global Game
Lekjaa also pointed to sweeping reforms in competition formats. Chief among them was the expansion of the FIFA World Cup, increasing the number of participating nations, alongside broader adjustments across youth and women’s competitions.
“These reforms reflect a vision of globalising football,” Lekjaa said, adding that broader participation has provided emerging football nations with greater opportunities on the world stage.
That vision, he suggested, has tangible implications for Morocco. The country is set to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal in a centenary celebration spanning two continents — marking only the second time the tournament will be staged on African soil.
For Lekjaa, the joint hosting rights underscore Africa’s growing integration into football’s global leadership architecture.
Strategic Gains for Morocco
Beyond tournament hosting, Lekjaa highlighted another milestone: the establishment of FIFA’s African headquarters in Rabat.
Describing the move as “highly significant,” he said the presence of the continental office strengthens development, training and institutional capacity-building initiatives across Africa.
“Like all African and global federations, we have benefited from development-dedicated resources that have accelerated football development programs,” Lekjaa concluded.
As FIFA marks a decade under Infantino’s leadership, Lekjaa’s remarks reflect a broader narrative of structural reform and competitive expansion — one that, in Morocco’s view, has redefined governance, redistributed opportunity, and repositioned Africa more centrally within world football’s evolving order.
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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said that Gianni Infantino’s participation in the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace alongside United States President Donald Trump does not breach the Olympic Charter’s rules on political neutrality.
Infantino, who serves as president of FIFA and is also a member of the International Olympic Committee, attended Thursday’s meeting of the Board of Peace. The initiative is focused on reconstruction efforts in Gaza and aims to support rebuilding work in the territory once Hamas disarms.
“The IOC has been in contact with FIFA,” an IOC spokesperson said on Saturday. “We understand that FIFA is supporting, through football, a comprehensive sport recovery investment programme in Gaza, Palestine, by providing sporting infrastructure, education and elite development proposals.
“This is entirely in keeping with the role of an international sport federation. The IOC, through Olympic Solidarity, which is our development vehicle, has been and continues to support sport development in the region,” the spokesperson added.
The Olympic Charter requires IOC members to remain independent of political and commercial interests and prohibits them from accepting mandates or instructions from governments or other parties that could interfere with their freedom of action or vote.
The Board of Peace, spearheaded by Trump, has drawn controversy. While it includes Israel, it does not feature Palestinian representatives. Trump’s suggestion that the board could expand its focus beyond Gaza has also prompted concerns among some observers that it might encroach on the United Nations’ traditional role in global diplomacy and conflict resolution.
Infantino appeared on stage with several heads of state during the event, wearing a red hat emblazoned with “USA” and the numbers “45–47,” referencing Trump’s two non-consecutive presidencies. He also displayed a FIFA collaboration agreement with the Board of Peace outlining plans to construct 50 mini-pitches near schools and residential areas in Gaza, five full-size pitches across multiple districts, a FIFA academy and a new 20,000-seat national stadium.
Trump and Infantino have met on several occasions, with the United States preparing to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada. In December, Trump was awarded FIFA’s inaugural peace prize, with the governing body citing his efforts to promote dialogue and de-escalation in global conflict zones.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who was elected in 2025, has not yet met Trump. The 2028 Summer Olympic Games are scheduled to be held in Los Angeles.
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Infantino marks 10 years as FIFA President, hails reforms and global expansion of the game
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