USA looking to host 2026 World Cup: Former DFB coach expects Infantino to change after World Cup

Looking forward to the USA hosting the 2026 World Cup
The former DFB coach expects Infantino to change hands after the World Cup

12/15/2022 9:56 AM

FIFA coach Gianni Infantino is perfectly aligned with Qatar at the World Cup. He does not see the problems of human rights or the debate about the lack of diversity. That will change once the World Cup is over, says former DFB president Reinhard Grindel.

Former DFB president Reinhard Grindel expects a “different” Gianni Infantino after the World Cup in Qatar. Grindel said he could imagine the FIFA president “would only be interested in the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico and the national sponsors there”. The 61-year-old said, “I wouldn’t be surprised if FIFA would then pay attention to human rights and diversity. That’s to be expected, especially in the USA.” The background is the likely significant pressure from donors in these questions.

Infantino has been subjected to sharp criticism from European countries in recent months, especially at the start of the World Cup, due to the banning of the “One Love” captain’s armband. During the finals in Qatar, the 52-year-old Swiss was reluctant to appear in public, and a press conference with the FIFA president is expected at the end of the World Cup. Infantino took advantage of the opening conference before the first match of the World Cup to defend Qatar, the controversial host of the controversial World Cup.

“He has made himself an advocate of the regulator. At the same time, he knows that most federations do not share reservations from parts of Western Europe,” said Grindel, who sat on the FIFA Council as president of the German Football Association from 2017 to 2019. Both of them have had disagreements on several occasions.

“Infantino is more controversial than many people think,” said Grindel. “I’ve been told that over and over again in my conversations with many other presidents around the world.” He pointed to the fact that the deadline for candidacy for the next FIFA presidential election had expired in March, shortly before the World Cup. Infantino runs unopposed. “The most important thing for Gianni Infantino is that the deadline for submitting applications for candidate opponents expired before the World Cup. As a result, he did not have to consider Qatar’s critics,” Grindel said. “Infantino will correct the picture by 2027 because he cannot avoid it because of the World Cup in the USA.”