FIFA Executive Football Summit
On the morning of the opening match of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, the FIFA President and Secretary General hosted a summit for the member associations representing all six confederations.
In the presence of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, His Excellency Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, FIFA Council members and FIFA Legends from around the world, FIFA President Gianni Infantino welcomed leaders from member associations representing all six confederations to Doha for the FIFA Executive Football Summit 2022 and encouraged all in attendance to continue their work together to unite through football and develop the global game.
“We are united to bring global football forward. Together with all 211 member associations, with all confederations, we will continue to work together for the next four years and we will do great, great things.”
Following the opening remarks by His Highness The Amir, President Infantino – in his first address to member associations since it was confirmed that the elective 73rd FIFA Congress in March 2023 would be uncontested – thanked the member associations at the summit for their support. “I’m truly humbled, I’m extremely honoured, to have received the official support of over 200 member associations from all continents and this shows that we are indeed united,” said the FIFA President. “We are united in wanting to bring global football forward. Together with all 211 member associations, with all confederations, we will continue to work together for the next four years and we will do great, great things: we will make football truly global; we will make football bigger.”
Giving every talent a chance
As well as the message of unity, togetherness and financial growth, the summit gave FIFA’s Global Football Development Division and Refereeing Subdivision the opportunity to address the member associations. In doing so, they were able to present their proposals on the latest developments and offerings from FIFA to help ensure that every talent is given a chance to shine – regardless of where they are born.
FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsène Wenger and Jill Ellis – who leads the Technical Advisory Group on the Future of Women’s Football – answered questions on the FIFA Talent Development Scheme and the ongoing development of the women’s game, respectively. FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura’s address focused on the development opportunities a 32-team FIFA Women’s World Cup™ would offer.
Harnessing technology for refereeing excellence
FIFA Referees Committee chairman Pierluigi Collina also took part to discuss how FIFA continued to harness the power of technology in all areas of officiating, including at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, to provide “Team One”, which was made up of the referees, assistant referees and video match officials, with the best possible tools to enable them to carry out their duties at elite level.