The knockout round of the soccer World Cup in Australia and New Zealand starts. The matches are attended by more fans than ever before, but one spectator in particular is rarely seen: FIFA President Gianni Infantino. This is in stark contrast to his omnipresence at the men’s World Cup in Qatar.
The players go onto the pitch, Gianni Infantino is already there. The World Cup game is kicked off, the FIFA President grins at the cameras. The fans celebrate, Infantino waves from the VIP box. The boss of the world football association is omnipresent at the World Cup, and it is certain that he will flicker across the TV screens at every game. Infantino turns into a running gag. There are scenes from the 2022 World Cup, the men’s World Cup in Qatar. These images are in stark contrast to those of the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the women’s World Cup. Infantino makes himself rare.
He’s president of world football, not just men’s. Before the World Cup, Infantino had left no doubt that women absolutely had to be promoted and given equal status as quickly as possible. He had taken the side of the much-discussed – and not even demanded by the German players – equal pay and set the goal of paying the same bonuses at the upcoming 2027 World Cup as for men. He had taken on the European TV broadcasters when they did not want to pay a lot of money for the broadcasting rights, threatening them with a blackout. All indications of his determination.
As always before a tournament, he said of the women’s World Cup that it would be “the best the world has ever seen”. Addressing Australia and New Zealand, he promised: “It will turn both of your countries upside down.” At the start he traveled to New Zealand and announced before the opening game: “I’m looking forward to seeing as many games as possible.”
Of course, FIFA used his presence to raise public awareness. When the 1.5 millionth ticket was bought, he personally greeted the buyers. Maria Strong, her husband and three children wanted to celebrate their son’s twelfth birthday at the match between Italy and Argentina – Infantino was there as a birthday guest. “I enjoyed spending time with them and it was a pleasure to invite them to every game here in Auckland so they can spend more time with their family at this beautiful stadium,” he said, according to the statement. “Every game at Eden Park has been a great atmosphere and I’m sure that will be the case for the upcoming games as well.”
Detour to oceanic islands
He watched five games in the country of the co-host – before he disappeared. In Australia he hadn’t even been seen. Instead, he visited the Cook Islands, boasting about being the first FIFA President in the country. The rationale behind his departure and outing: “I am delighted to be in the beautiful Cook Islands where everyone is football mad. This is particularly evident when you consider that the FIFA Women’s World Cup currently being held is also the World Cup of all Oceania and represents a great celebration of football throughout the Pacific Islands.”
He was also a guest in Tahiti and Tonga. Speaking on his visit to Tonga, he wrote on Instagram: “We are here to care for those no one really cares about. We are here to be with those who live in the most remote parts of the world, and with those who never give up and want to live their dreams.” The powerful functionary with millions in his account presents himself as the savior of the world, as the one who takes care of the needs of the “little people”.
There were no outings during the Qatar World Cup
During the World Cup in Qatar, there were no such visits to neighboring countries. Infantino only stayed in the country where he has also rented a house since October 2021 and has sent two of his daughters to school. Of course, with the distances between the venues at the Women’s World Cup, it’s impossible to attend all the games. While all the stadiums were close together in Qatar, the Tasman Sea separates the two host countries. The westernmost venue, Perth, is more than 5200 kilometers away from the easternmost, New Zealand’s Wellington. However, critics were uncomfortable with the fact that Infantino did not appear in Australia within the first ten days of the World Cup.
After all, he showed up at the Australians’ group finals, watched the furious 4-0 win that saw the Matildas into the round of 16 and knocked out the Olympic champions from Canada. He would also attend other group games, FIFA had announced. Before he would then continue his journey to other member states of the oceanic association. However, since the FIFA boss is not caught by the TV cameras during the games – as is obligatory – and is therefore not omnipresent, the public hustle and bustle about his person does not exist.
It is much more his Instagram profile that shows his travel activities. Posts about the games are published there, numerous photos of the duels, congratulations to the first round of 16 can be read. He himself cannot be seen in these pictures, cannot be seen at all. He has already left Australia again after he shook hands with Nouhaila Benzina, the first footballer to wear a hijab at a World Cup – also here in publicity. He is currently promoting his visit to the Fiji Islands, having previously visited Vanuatu.
Visit-Saudi plan created tension
It’s not as if his absence would be unkind, Australia and many women footballers haven’t been on good terms with FIFA lately anyway. Visit Saudi should have become a sponsor of this tournament, the Tourism Authority of Saudi Arabia. The very country that has been criticized for its women’s and human rights. US striker Alex Morgan described this as “bizarre”, Alexandra Popp said “that this is not the best sponsor for a women’s World Cup – for what we women also stand for.” The plans were dropped due to the harsh protests.
“It’s time to respect women,” Infantino said before the start of the World Cup. He consistently does not follow through with this demand. And it obviously doesn’t automatically mean that he follows the tournament as closely as the men’s.