World Cup 2030: Gianni Infantino already brings out his favorite refrain

Already under fire for his plan to open up to private investors, Gianni Infantino is recycling a promise now made before every World Cup.

Amid the controversy sparked by the FIFA Forward Enterprise project, Gianni Infantino continues his messaging around upcoming competitions. Present in Morocco for the Throne Day celebrations, the FIFA president looked ahead to the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal.

According to COPE, the Swiss-Italian official described his presence as a “true honor and great pleasure” before declaring that the 2030 World Cup “will undoubtedly be the greatest in history.” He even added: “It will be the best because it will be held in the most beautiful of beautiful countries, Morocco.”

A promise that’s become systematic

The formula is nothing new. Back in 2018, Infantino already billed the tournament in Russia as “the best World Cup in history.” He repeated the claim in Qatar in 2022, and then again after the 2026 edition in North America.

Four tournaments, four nearly identical promises. The repetition now feels more like a promotional speech tailored to the host nation than genuine analysis. Infantino also praised Moroccans, describing them as “football enthusiasts who love to support their national team with joy and enthusiasm.” Morocco is particularly hoping to host the final in its future Grand Stade Hassan II, announced with a capacity of 115,000 seats.

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A fourth term in sight

Infantino has been at the helm of FIFA since 2016. He has won three elections: in 2016, 2019, and 2023. His officially announced candidacy for 2027 would represent a fourth election, but only counts as a third term under the statutes, as his first stint completed Sepp Blatter’s interrupted mandate. A win would allow him to stay in office until 2031.

Morocco has already officially backed Gianni Infantino’s re-election, as have CAF and CONMEBOL. According to The Guardian, more than 200 associations even sent him a letter of support in mid-July.

However, resistance remains particularly strong in Europe since the unveiling of FIFA’s commercial project. All 55 UEFA members oppose the initiative, though they haven’t officially withdrawn their electoral support for Infantino. This crisis could nevertheless weaken a re-election that seemed all but assured just weeks ago.

Mahdi Zakaria LAZRI |

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Football web writer creating digital sports content with a focus on news, analysis and stories that reflect passion, accuracy and objectivity.

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