Speaking at a panel session at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on May 23, FIFA president Gianni Infantino stressed football’s ability to unite people globally. Infantino used the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar as an example of an upcoming opportunity. The session, titled “Sport as a Unifying Force,” was opened by Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the emir of the State of Qatar. Infantino reminded the delegates of Nelson Mandela’s idea that “sport can change the world,” adding that football, as the most popular sport in the world, has in this sense a unique reach and responsibility. The panel was moderated by the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA vice-president Patrice Motsepe. Also, it included two-time FIFA World Cup winner Ronaldo, CAF Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA Club World Cup-winner Édouard Mendy, former coach and current FIFA’s chief of global football development Arsène Wenger, double FIFA World Women’s Cup-winning coach Jill Ellis and Hassan Al Thawadi, secretary-general of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, the organization responsible for coordinating public and private entities in the areas of infrastructure and development projects toward the 2022 World Cup. The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will run from Nov. 21 to Dec. 18 and is expected to be watched by an estimated five billion people.

Topics