Monday 15 November 2021, 01:00

FIFA President discusses football development on visit to France

  • President Infantino saw FIFA World Cup™ holders book their place in Qatar

  • Meetings held with FFF President Noël Le Graët and government representatives in Paris

  • FIFA office in the French capital will become operational in 2022

FIFA President Gianni Infantino witnessed FIFA World Cup™ holders France book their place at next year’s final tournament in Qatar with an 8-0 win over Kazakhstan at the Parc des Princes and hailed the impact that Paris will continue to have on football’s global growth.

In meetings with French Football Federation President Noël Le Graët, Mr Infantino noted the inspiration given to youngsters by the exploits of the France national team in Russia, and how the commitment to the sustainable development of football’s infrastructure will help that to continue for both the men’s and women’s game.

He noted that the enormous success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ bodes well for France’s hosting of the Olympic Football Tournaments as part of Paris 2024, an event that was discussed with France’s Minister for Sports, Roxana Mărăcineanu and Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti.

As part of Mr Infantino’s vision to make football truly global, a new FIFA office will become operational in Paris in 2022. As well as taking FIFA back to the spiritual home where the organisation was founded in 1904, the new base will enable FIFA to be more present with its member associations, thus strengthening the foundations of the game.