Infantino confident of Qatari World Cup

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has again expressed his confidence in Qatar’s hosting of football’s 2022 World Cup; stressing that it will not be threatened by the ongoing diplomatic crisis in the Middle East.

Last week, the global governing body of football stated that it was in “regular contact” with the organisers of the Qatar World Cup after six Arab countries – Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Yemen – cut diplomatic ties with the nation.

Speaking with Swiss newspaper Le Matin Dimanche whether Qatar’s World Cup was in doubt, Infantino said: “No. In any case, I am not in the habit of speculating and I'm not going to this time either.”

“The essential role of Fifa, as I understand it, is to deal with football and not to interfere in geopolitics. We are indeed facing a diplomatic crisis", he stressed. “But on the other hand I am confident that the region will return to a normalised situation. The World Cup is in 2022. In five years’ time. Obviously, if football can make a small contribution, in any way, to an improvement, I will not hesitate to offer my help.”