Cannavaro delivers a powerful defence

The support arrived at a critical moment. Italy’s football federation had withdrawn its backing for the FIFA president, joining several European associations that have turned against him.

According to Al Jazeera’s report, Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro responded with an unusually direct message.

“Over the last ten years, world football has improved,” Cannavaro wrote, adding that players had “once again taken centre stage.”

“Infantino has done a great job. Not acknowledging that would be intellectually dishonest.”

Read also: Abu Dhabi United Group financed them for years

Cannavaro was not alone. Brazil legends Cafu and Roberto Carlos, Argentina’s Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso, Colombia’s Iván Córdoba and Mexico’s Jared Borgetti also published messages supporting the FIFA president.

Cafu particularly praised FIFA’s work to improve player representation inside the game’s governing structures. Coming from two World Cup-winning captains, the defence carries considerably more weight than an ordinary political endorsement.

The numbers support his case

Infantino’s strongest argument is the expansion of football beyond its traditional powers. The first 48-team World Cup gave more countries access to the biggest stage without reducing the tournament’s sporting appeal.

According to FIFA’s official tournament review, a record 6,810,966 spectators attended the 104 matches. Stadiums operated at 99.7 percent capacity, while the tournament produced 308 goals and an average of 2.96 per game, the highest World Cup ratio since 1970.

Read also: Dana White on ownership of new Las Vegas NBA Team: “YES”

The expanded format created room for new teams and stories while still delivering the biggest stars. It was ambitious, commercially powerful and, judged by attendance and entertainment, remarkably successful.

A president looking beyond Europe

Infantino’s wider project has focused on sending resources to associations that historically struggled to compete. FIFA described that mission during his recent Caribbean visit, where he argued that football must provide “opportunities, access and resources” across all 211 member countries.

His presidency has not been free of controversy, and legitimate governance questions should not be ignored. But a positive assessment does not require pretending that every decision was perfect.

Infantino promised to make football more global. Record audiences, wider participation and increased investment outside Europe suggest that, on the central promise of his presidency, he has delivered.

Read also: Aymeric Laporte exposes ugly side of Pep Guardiola relationship

Read also: Manchester City face new panel that could reopen the 115-charge verdict