Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, expressed his pleasure at being in Doha and meeting H.E. Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, Minister of Sports and Youth and member of the FIFA Council.

Infantino said that during the meeting, they reviewed Qatar’s remarkable journey in global football and discussed ways to further enhance development in the country.

He noted that the legacy of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 continues to resonate worldwide, setting new standards both on and off the pitch and inspiring future generations. They also discussed the success of major tournaments hosted by Qatar, including the FIFA Arab Cup 2025, the last two editions of the FIFA Confederations Cup, and the expanded-format FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025, which has provided a strong platform for young talents to shine on the global stage.

With four more upcoming editions, the tournament is expected to contribute to youth development and create more opportunities and pathways for future stars, as Qatar continues to play a key role in shaping the future of global football.

Infantino also celebrated Qatar national football team’s historic qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 for the first time outside of hosting. He thanked Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani for his continuous support and commitment to developing football in Qatar and worldwide.