In his address to the 54 FIFA member associations on the African continent, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that The inaugural edition of the FIFA Club World Cup™ Which will be held next year with the participation of 32 teams, which will contribute to the development of football not only on the African continent but throughout the world.
During his speech at the 46th Ordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Mr. Infantino stressed the importance of winning the fight against racism and noted that the expansion of the FIFA Club World Cup 26™ has contributed to increased investments and development of football. In Africa.
Four African teams – Al Ahly, Wydad Athletic Club, Esperance Sportive de Tunis, and Mamelodi Sundowns – will join the FIFA Club World Cup, which will be hosted in the United States in 2025, giving them a unique opportunity to face teams from around the world in competitive matches.
“Club football was the foundation on which the football edifice was built. It emerged as a national movement. Then its scope expanded to include continents, and after a century and a half in the history of football, the time has come for club football to become a comprehensive global phenomenon as well,” said Mr. Infantino. We strive to provide the full opportunity for all of you, and for your players to be able to showcase their talents at At the global level…which contributes, once again, to the development of football in Africa and throughout the world, in fulfillment of our lofty mission.”
Mr Infantino added that all six confederations were united in support Strategic objectives set by FIFA Which included the launch of this tournament. He also stated, “The task of all of us is to create the appropriate conditions, kindle the flame of hope, expand horizons, strive for improvement, and participate effectively.”
Regarding the issue of racism, the FIFA President thanked the member associations for their support For the global stance taken by FIFA against racismwhich was adopted during the 74th FIFA Congress held in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 17, 2024. He stated, “I see that this is a fundamental struggle that we must win, and that we are on the path to victory thanks to our unity.”
He also stressed his pride in the remarkable development that the African football system has witnessed in recent years, with a focus on five main axes: football development, football for men’s national teams, football for women’s national teams, football for clubs, and football for youth.
The FIFA Forward Program currently allocates US$2 million annually to each of FIFA’s 211 member associations to invest in football development. I express my sincere gratitude for the contribution [السخية] Which he provided FIFA Forward programme And the constant financial flow from FIFA. As Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe emphasized in his subsequent speech, “We need football in all parts of the African continent.”
Mr Infantino said FIFA’s decision to expand the FIFA World Cup™ from 32 to 48 teams starting in 2026, while increasing the number of seats allocated to the African continent from five to nine or 10, was a “support for investment in football and its development across the continent”. African.
Likewise, expanding tournament scope FIFA Women’s World Cup™ From 24 to 32 teams in the last edition in 2023 has provided more opportunities, as the number of seats allocated to Africa has increased from three to four, in addition to the possibility of two additional continents obtaining two places through the playoff tournament.”
The FIFA President also urged member associations to invest in youth football and benefit from expanded youth competitions, with Morocco selected to host the next five editions of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup™, which will become an annual event starting in 2025.
His speech included a moving tribute to the former President of the Confederation of African Football, Issa Hayatou, who passed away on 8 August 2024. Mr. Hayatou served as President of the Confederation of African Football from 1988 to 2017, and had been a member of the FIFA Council since From 1990 until 2017. He also held the position of Vice President of FIFA and Acting President of FIFA during the period from October 2015 to February 2016.
