Summary

  • Fifa chief Gianni Infantino says 2022 tournament 'best World Cup ever'

  • Infantino says proposed three-team group format for 2026 will be 'revisited'

  • Plans for expanded 32-team men's Club World Cup from 2025, and new Women's Club World Cup

  • Countdown to World Cup final - Argentina v France, Sunday 15:00 GMT

  • Third place play-off: Croatia v Morocco, Saturday 15:00

  • Get involved: Tweet #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826

  1. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:25 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2022

    #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only) or via What's App on 03301231826

    Luis Suarez sobsImage source, Getty Images

    16 groups of three teams? Then what? Immediate knockout featuring 32 or another group stage? This appears to be about money and not quality of play. It's been a long road from the Euros in 1988 with its two groups of four. When just qualifying meant you had, in effect, reached the quarters

    Keith

    So in the 16 groups of three format at the World Cup, the top two would go through to a round of 32.

    One of the worries with this is two teams playing out the final game to achieve a result that suits both teams, with the third team unable to influence anything.

    And we'd lose drama like we had when Uruguay were knocked out by a late South Korea winner.

  2. 'New Club World Cup will be the best teams in the world'published at 11:20 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2022

    Club World Cup trophyImage source, Getty Images

    More from Gianni Infantino, who is asked to clarify some of his earlier comments about the new Club World Cup format: "It will be a Club World Cup of 32 teams, every four years, and the first edition will be summer of 2025.

    "They will be the best teams in the world invited to participate.

    "When you talk about the product for the next four years, this Club World Cup is not included in the $11bn forecast.

    "We are actually going to have an even greater sum we will be able to invest in the next four years."

  3. 'Every person dying is one person too many'published at 11:18 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2022

    More from Gianni Infantino, who is asked about the deaths of migrant workers and other personnel working on the tournament: “Every person dying is one person too many, it is a tragedy for the family and for everyone.

    "The figures you mentioned are two different figures. Three plus one are people who died in construction of stadiums. The 400/500 are people who died in general construction since 2014. When we speak about figures we have to be very precise in order not to create impressions of something that is something else.

    "We have to be attentive to how we portray that. For us every loss of life is a tragedy and whatever we could do to change the legislation to protect the situation of the workers, we did it and it happened. Whatever we can still do for the future, we are doing it.

    "We want to bring this experience into the future and make sure we can help and leverage the World Cup and spotlights on it to make lives of people and their family a bit better."

  4. 'This World Cup has had positives from a non-football perspective'published at 11:15 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2022

    Morocco's players sing the national anthemImage source, Getty Images

    More from Gianni Infantino, who is asked about whether this World Cup will have the "transformative change" it set out to achieve:

    “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 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, this World Cup has brought.

    "One of gthe 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.

    "I could speak for a few hours about the football legacy."

  5. 'Africa's time has come'published at 11:11 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2022

    Morocco's players sing the national anthemImage source, Getty Images

    More from Gianni Infantino, who was asked about the success of Morocco, who became the first African team to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup: "Morocco has played exceptionally well, with a great desire and undeniable quality. 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 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."

  6. 'Everyone is free to express beliefs in a respectful way'published at 11:08 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2022

    More from Gianni Infantino, who is asked about his second term, and Fifa's ban on the OneLove armband: "Fifa is an organisation of 211 countries around the world. I am very proud that over 200 countries have expressed their support to me and to the others I am very grateful as well.

    "There are many different concerns in different countries. There are many different cultures and as Fifa we have to take care of everyone.

    "We don’t have to discriminate against anyone, whatever regime and values, they have to come together. When it comes to regulations, prohibitions, it is not about prohibiting, it is about respecting regulations. Everyone is free to express beliefs as long as it is done in a respectful way but when it comes to the field of play, you need to respect and protect football.

    "There are 211 football teams, not heads of state, and their fans want to come and enjoy football. This is what we are here for. I believe we are defending values, defending human rights, defending rights of everyone in Fifa, in the World Cup.

    "But I also believe these fans who come to the stadium and all those billions watching on TV maybe – and we should think about that – they feel everyone has their own problems, they just want to spend 90 minutes without having to think about anything else than just enjoying a little moment of pleasure, joy or emotion.

    "That is what we have to do – we have to give a moment in time where they can forget their problems and enjoy football.

    "Between competitions, outside of the game everyone can express their views, but for 90 minutes let's give this moment of joy."

  7. Postpublished at 11:03 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2022

    More from Gianni Infantino: "Fifa shares everything from its wealth. All the revenues are being redistributed.

    "When it comes to a legacy fund, we have published some information on that and it will follow.

    "With regards the next World Cup and 16 groups of three we need to consider that again. Maybe 12 groups of four are better."

  8. 'We are really convinced of the growth'published at 11:01 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2022

    Gianni InfantinoImage source, Getty Images

    In his opening remarks Gianni Infantino confirmed that Fifa's budget for the next four-year cycle was going to be $11 billion (about £9m).

    He is asked to expand on how that budget will be spent, and the reason for the 50% uplift.

    “We are bullish about the power of football," said Infantino. "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 – 80-90,000. A lot of attractions for fans – we are expecting 5.5m fans travelling for these events. We are convinced football will be booming in North America. We are really convinced of the growth."

  9. Fifa to revisit format of 2026 World Cuppublished at 10:59 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2022

    Big news.

    Gianni Infaninto has confirmed that Fifa will revisit, or at least, discuss the format of the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

    The format for that tournament is due to be 16 three-team groups, with the top two progressing to the knockout stages.

    "I have to say after this World Cup, and the success of the groups of four, we have to revisit or rediscuss the format whether we go for 16 groups of three or 12 groups of four," says Infantino.

  10. 'An incredible success'published at 10:56 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2022

    Gianni InfantinoImage source, Getty Images

    The questions have started now, and the first one is about the tournament as a whole.

    “The World Cup has been an incredible success on all fronts," said Infantino.

    "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.

    "When it comes to the matches, we have seen some incredibly competitive games, some surprises, some great goals.

    "At the end of the day, there was on average 10 minutes played as additional time every match. This was a very fair World Cup on the pitch, no simulations, not so many yellow and red cards.

    "But this shows the compliment goes to the players and coaches who maintained their calm, and of course the referees."

  11. Infantino confirms when second term will startpublished at 10:54 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2022

    Gianni Infantino is currently in his first term as Fifa president.

    Each president is allowed three terms in total, and it had already been confirmed that Infantino will have a second term after being unchallenged for the role.

    He says his second term will start on 16 March.

  12. 'We have to consider players' heath and well-being'published at 10:48 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2022

    Gianni InfantinoImage source, Getty Images

    More clarification from Gianni Infantino about the future football calendar and wanting to protect the players: "A very important element is we have to take into consideration is the health and well-being of players hence four-game window, rather than two-game windows. We need to make sure there is a rest period for the players.

    "We will consult on these topics and elaborate."

    Infantino also confirms that Morocco will host the Club World Cup in February 2023.

  13. Fifa to introduce World Series events & Women's Club World Cuppublished at 10:46 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2022

    Gianni Infantino has now moved onto talking about the football calendar.

    He says the usual September and October international windows will be combined so nations play four games across late September and early October, rather than two in each.

    The other windows will stay in the same slot.

    ‘We have seen the importance of teams from different continents happening more regularly," said Infantino.

    "We want to use the March 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."

  14. Details of men's Club World Cup revealedpublished at 10:43 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2022

    Gianni InfantinoImage source, Getty Images

    Gianni Infantino has provided some more details from this morning's Fifa Council meeting and it relates to the revenue the organisation has earned and its budget.

    “When it comes to the council meeting, we could confirm revenues of this four-year cycle - 7.5 billion," said Infantino.

    "Looking forward, the Fifa Council approved the budget for the next four year cycle, which will be eleven billion and almost 10 billion will go directly back to football.

    "We discussed some strategic principles. For the men, we agreed to have a new men’s Club World Cup, this will happen in 2025 and will have 32 teams, making it like this World Cup."

  15. 'There is something happening with football becoming truly global'published at 10:39 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2022

    Gianni Infantino has moved onto some of the numbers behind the tournament so far.

    He says 3.27 million spectators have attended the games.

    “Matches have been played without incidents. It has been a very joyful atmosphere,” said Infantino.

    "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.

    "It has been an incredible success, approaching five billion in terms of viewing figures."

  16. 'This World Cup has created a unique, cohesive power'published at 10:35 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2022

    FIFA president Gianni InfantinoImage source, Reuters

    Gianni Infantino has started his press conference by praising the success of the tournament: "The unanimous praise of Fifa Council for this World Cup and for the unique cohesive power this World Cup has shown.

    "Thanks to everyone involved, Qatar, all the volunteers to make this the best World Cup ever."

  17. Infantino arrivespublished at 10:32 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2022

    Fifa president Gianni Infantino is speaking now.

    He apologises for being "a little bit late".

  18. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:28 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2022

    Get involved: Tweet #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826

    Denmark's midfielder Christian Eriksen (L) and Tunisia's midfielder Aissa Laidouni fight for the ballImage source, Getty Images

    Best WC moment for me: Laidouni's huge tackle on Erikson and his roar afterwards. It relieved so much tension from what are usually cagey group games and showed that the non-European nations weren't here just to make up the numbers!

    Matt, London

  19. get involved

    Get Involved - Your favourite momentpublished at 10:25 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2022

    Get involved: Tweet #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826

    Favourite World Cup Moment? Morocco matching 2-times champions Spain blow for blow during the match and then thrashing them on penalties. The stuff of childhood dreams that.

    Anon

  20. Poland’s Marciniak to referee World Cup finalpublished at 10:23 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2022

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