FIFA has announced that it has contributed millions to a particular center, although the specifics of the donation remain largely under wraps. This move has sparked a conversation about the role of FIFA in political matters. Some critics have raised concerns about the organization’s involvement in political arenas, questioning whether it should focus solely on its sporting mandate.

Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s president, has stirred further debate by expressing support for former U.S. President Donald Trump’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize this year. This endorsement has been met with mixed reactions, adding another layer of complexity to the discussion surrounding FIFA’s engagement in global political discourse.

In a broader reflection on the essence of football, Georgakis highlighted the sport’s unique capacity to unite diverse communities. He remarked, “We may have some of the smallest and some of the poorest countries in the world being able to compete against some of the heavyweights of international football, but also rich and powerful communities. That’s the real beauty of the sport of football, an institution which really can inspire both boys and girls to take part in sport.” His comments underscore football’s universal appeal and potential as a source of inspiration across different demographics.

Georgakis said: “We may have some of the smallest and some of the poorest countries in the world being able to compete against some of the heavyweights of international football, but also rich and powerful communities. That’s the real beauty of the sport of football, an institution which really can inspire both boys and girls to take part in sport.”

“They really want this to be a very successful World Cup because from the billions of dollars they’ll make out of the World Cup, they want to use this money to, as Infantino says, bring the world together through football.”