Gianni Infantino: “It has been the best group stage of a World Cup”

MADRID, 7 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, is satisfied with what he is seeing so far at the World Cup in Qatar, where he has seen “the best group stage of a World Cup” and a level among the teams “very, very even.”

“In fact, I have seen all the games and said very simply and clearly, this has been the best group stage of a World Cup. Therefore, it is something very promising for the rest of the tournament,” Infantino said in statements provided this Wednesday by FIFA.

For the manager, the first 48 matches of the competition “have been of great, great quality” and played “in beautiful stadiums”, also highlighting the “incredible” influx of spectators. “More than 51,000 on average,” he detailed.

He also talks about “record numbers on television.” “We already had more than 2 billion viewers, which is really unbelievable. Two and a half million people on the streets of Doha and a few hundred thousand every day in the stadiums, all together, cheering together, supporting their teams, with a fantastic atmosphere, seeing great goals. It is an incredible emotion and with surprises”, he stressed.

“There are no longer small teams or big teams, the level is very, very even. For the first time in history, teams from all continents have gone through to the knockout phase. This shows that football is becoming truly global,” he continued. infantino.

Finally, the president hopes that the World Cup “continues and concludes as it began, with fantastic success. I am sure that we will reach 5,000 million viewers around the world. And at the end of the day, we simply want to give a little joy to people all over the world. That’s what football is about, that’s what the FIFA World Cup is about, and that’s what should also happen from now until the end.”