Soccer Feast Kicks Off in Bali, Indonesia, Nov. 16 - A Conversation with FIFA President Infantino
As the World Cup event in Qatar is about to kick off, Xinhua News Agency had the honor to interview FIFA President Infantino at the Bali Summit. Infantino emphasized that soccer is not only a competition, but also a bridge across cultural boundaries, and its far-reaching cultural influence can connect people around the world.
During this G-20 leaders' summit, Infantino advocated that during the World Cup, countries should put aside their strife and share the joy of the quadrennial tournament by using soccer as a bond.
He further elaborated that soccer, as a team sport, promotes inclusiveness, collaboration and passion, and expects the World Cup to build a platform for communication between countries and bring joy to soccer fans around the world. "The magic of soccer is that it brings people together."
The theme of this year's summit is "Recovering Together, Recovering Strongly". As the head of the world's largest sports organization, Infantino pointed out that soccer is not only a popular sport, but also an important force to promote the economy, creating huge economic benefits and a large number of jobs for the world. The prosperity of the soccer industry has a positive effect on global economic recovery.
The 2022 World Cup finals will be held in Qatar from November 20 to December 18, marking the first time the World Cup will be held in the Middle East. Infantino expects nearly 5 billion viewers to follow the global event. "The World Cup will bring together happiness and unity and send hope to the world."
Infantino also spoke about China's plans to bid for the 2031 Women's World Cup, arguing that it would help the progress of Chinese and Asian soccer. He observed that the world's soccer market is unevenly distributed, with a major concentration in Europe, but this bodes well for the unlimited potential of the soccer market in other regions, especially in Asia.
Infantino firmly believes that China is an important part of global soccer development. From the national team to the clubs, Chinese soccer is in a rapid development stage. He expects the Chinese women's soccer team to debut at next year's World Cup with excellent results.
Infantino revealed that FIFA is working with China with the aim of deepening the spread of soccer culture in the country. He emphasized that the core value of soccer lies in exposing more children to the sport from an early age and cultivating the spirit of teamwork and respect for opponents.
"For all soccer fans, regardless of age, the joy and pleasure when the ball rolls under their feet is incomparable." Infantino lamented this.
An Italian-Swiss, Infantino lamented Italy's failure to reach the World Cup in Qatar. He told Chinese fans: "We are all in this together. Let's enjoy the World Cup together, enjoy the passion of soccer, and look forward to the exciting showdown between the Chinese and Italian teams in the next World Cup."
