Fifa president Gianni Infantino has described the 2022 World Cup as “an incredible success”, while he confirmed Morocco as hosts of the next Fifa Club World Cup and also the competition’s expansion to 32 teams in 2025.
Football’s world governing body chief was speaking at a press conference in Doha on Friday, in which he said the four-year cycle for Qatar 2022 had generated $7.5 billion – more than $1bn more than the previous World Cup.
Infantino said Fifa estimates the 2026 finals, held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and expanded from 32 teams to 48, will bring in $11bn, with “almost $10bn going directly back to football”.
Infantino referenced the "unanimous praise of the Fifa Council for this World Cup, and for the unique cohesive power this World Cup has shown", saying that everyone involved in its organisation had made it the "best World Cup ever".
'World Cup 2022 an incredible success'
“Matches have been played without incidents; it has been a very joyful atmosphere," Infantino said. "There is something happening when we talk about football becoming truly global, with an African team [Morocco] reaching the semi-final for the first time. We also had a woman, Stephanie Frappart, referee a match for the first time."
Infantino, who has been re-elected unopposed for a second term as president, later said: “The World Cup has been an incredible success on all fronts. The main one being the fans, the behaviour, the joyful atmosphere, the bringing of people together. The fans meeting the Arab world. It has been very important for the future of all of us."
Infantino said 3.27 million spectators have attended matches – two of the 64, the third-place play-off and the final, remain – and that the tournament was “approaching five billion in terms of viewing figures".
Morocco to host rescheduled Club World Cup
Morocco, one of the success stories of Qatar 2022, has been awarded the rescheduled 2022 Club World Cup, which will be held from February 1-11. Morocco hosted the tournament in 2013 and in 2014, while the most recent edition was staged in Abu Dhabi last February.
The competition will remain in its existing format, with the six continental-federation champions featuring with the host nation’s league champions. Real Madrid, who won the 2014 title, will headline, with Brazil’s Flamengo, Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal and Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca also taking part.
Infantino said a sizeable extension to the Club World Cup will begin in 2025. Fifa had originally decided to introduce an expanded 24-team tournament in 2021 in China, only for the Covid-19 pandemic to scupper plans.
On Friday, Infantino did not provide any further details regarding the 2025 Club World Cup, but said a 32-team tournament would “make it really like a World Cup”.
The Fifa president also praised the Morocco national team for their history-making run to the semi-finals. Walid Regragui’s side became the first Arab country to reach the quarter-finals, and then the first African nation to contest the tournament’s last four.
Morocco were defeated 2-0 in Wednesday’s semi-final by France, the reigning champions. They face Croatia on Saturday for third place.
Africa on the rise
"Morocco has played exceptionally well, with a great desire and undeniable quality,” Infantino said. “Reaching a semi-final is not done by chance, a result of a long-term effort.
"I would like to congratulate the other African teams as well. Senegal made it out of the group stage for example, having not done so last time.
"For many decades we have been talking about the development of African football and when their time will come - and I think their time has come. There will be double the African teams at the next World Cup, and I am sure we can look forward to some more excellent performances."
Infantino announced plans to introduce a women’s Club World Cup and the “Fifa World Series”.
"We have seen the importance of teams from different continents happening more regularly," he said. "We want to use the March [international] windows in even years to organise friendly tournaments between four teams of four different confederations under the Fifa umbrella - 'Fifa World Series' events.
"For women’s football, it will be very similar. We want to create a new women’s Club World Cup and a new Fifa Futsal Women’s World Cup every four years. We would like to see if the women’s Olympic tournament can have 16 teams like the men’s does."
Plans for 2026 World Cup
On the expanded 2026 World Cup, Infantino said Fifa had decided to reassess plans to incorporate 16 groups of three teams at the tournament. The current format comprises four-team groups.
Infantino, who confirmed his second term as president will begin on March 16, said: “I have to say after this World Cup, and the success of the groups of four, we have to revisit or re-discuss the format whether we go for 16 groups of three or 12 groups of four.”
Infantino said he believes the 2026 World Cup will help make football the most popular sport in America.
“We are bullish about the power of football," he said. "About what we believe the impact of football, or soccer, we are more than bullish.
"We are convinced the impact of the game will be massive. It has been massive here, it will be incredible in North America: 48 teams, more games, revenues will go up.
"We will play in huge stadiums, stadiums which are normally used for American football – 80,000-90,000. A lot of attractions for fans; we are expecting 5.5 million fans travelling for these events.
“We are convinced football will be booming in North America. We are really convinced of the growth."
Tranformative change
Infantino was asked what he will take away from the experience of the 2022 World Cup, saying: “You should ask the people who came here from different continents. What has been achieved here in the Middle East has been quite unique. Everyone goes home with a nice memory, and I am sure they will come back.
"Only the World Cup can do this in such a massive, massive way. It has to be an ambition and mission of Fifa to organise its events in new countries."
Asked about the “transformative change” the Qatar event will leave, Infantino said: “I will wait until the end of the final to judge this World Cup, but already the transformative legacy of this World Cup is that many people from around the world have come to Qatar and have discovered the Arab world, which they didn’t know or knew only for what was portrayed to them.
"The main legacy is those who came and those who were here to welcome. You can spend time together and enjoy and know each better. These people who go home will speak about their experience and will open up more to the others. This is an important non-football legacy that this World Cup has brought.
"One of the main concerns was linked with safety and security; 32 countries all here at the same time and same place. We didn’t know how the people would react. Would they start fighting with each other?
"We have seen human beings are mentally good and positive, because people just come together and the more international the better. They come together to pursue their passion. We had no single incident - this is quite unique.
"The World Cup has contributed a little to a mutual understanding – it is something very positive from a non-football perspective."
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
The%20specs
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The specs
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 290hp
Torque: 340Nm
Price: Dh155,800
On sale: now
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
MATCH INFO
Tottenham 4 (Alli 51', Kane 50', 77'. Aurier 73')
Olympiakos 2 (El-Arabi 06', Semedo')
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
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Grand slam winners since July 2003
Who has won major titles since Wimbledon 2003 when Roger Federer won his first grand slam
Roger Federer 19 (8 Wimbledon, 5 Australian Open, 5 US Open, 1 French Open)
Rafael Nadal 16 (10 French Open, 3 US Open, 2 Wimbledon, 1 Australian Open)
Novak Djokovic 12 (6 Australian Open, 3 Wimbledon, 2 US Open, 1 French Open)
Andy Murray 3 (2 Wimbledon, 1 US Open)
Stan Wawrinka 3 (1 Australian Open, 1 French Open, 1 US Open)
Andy Roddick 1 (1 US Open)
Gaston Gaudio 1 (1 French Open)
Marat Safin 1 (1 Australian Open)
Juan Martin del Potro 1 (1 US Open)
Marin Cilic 1 (1 US Open)
Summer special
Results:
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Winner: Tabarak, Royston Ffrench (jockey), Rashed Bouresly (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap | $175,000 (Turf) | 3,200m
Winner: Dubhe, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
7.40pm: UAE 2000 Guineas Group 3 | $250,000 (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Estihdaaf, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor
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Winner: Nordic Lights, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.50pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Group 2 | $450,000 (D) | 1,900m
Winner: North America, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
9.25pm: Handicap | $175,000 (T) | 1,200m
Winner: Mazzini, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
10pm: Handicap | $135,000 (T) | 1,400m.
Winner: Mubtasim, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
FIXTURES
Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
Key facilities
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UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
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- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
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Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
