RABAT – FIFA President Gianni Infantino arrived in the Colombian city of Cali on Friday to attend the inauguration of Colombia’s newly elected president, Abelardo de la Espriella, while remaining under pressure over the recent crisis surrounding football’s global governing body.
Before attending the inauguration ceremony, Infantino met with dozens of children participating in a football event in Cali, where he highlighted the sport’s ability to unite people.
“It is a joy to be here today,” Infantino said. “Football is joy, football is happiness, and football is unity.”
He also praised Colombia’s football tradition, telling the young players that many champions have emerged from the region.
Infantino’s visit comes as FIFA continues to face criticism following its now-abandoned proposal to allow private investment in the FIFA World Cup. The initiative drew strong opposition from several football stakeholders, including UEFA, which reiterated this week that it could still boycott the tournament despite FIFA withdrawing the plan.
When asked by AFP whether he believed FIFA’s crisis had come to an end, Infantino declined to comment.
The FIFA chief is also preparing for the organization’s presidential election, scheduled to take place in Rabat in March 2027, where he is expected to seek a fourth and final term as president.
Later on Friday, Infantino was due to attend De la Espriella’s inauguration ceremony. Breaking with Colombian tradition, the new president chose to hold the event in Cali, widely regarded as the country’s salsa capital, instead of the usual venue before Congress in Bogotá.
