Infantino Claims Qatar 2022 Best World Cup in history, Here's the Reason

Gianni Infantino (Photo: FIFA)

JAKARTA - FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the 2022 World Cup as "the best in history" after group matches and the Round of 16, with record attendance and television viewing worldwide.

The president praised the quality of football from the 32 teams that competed in the group stage." I have seen all the matches, the facts, and very simply and clearly, this is the best group stage in the World Cup", Infantino was quoted as saying by Marca, Thursday.

"Great matches, great quality in great stadiums, we knew that. Apart from that, the crowds were amazing. Average over 51,000 fans."

"We had over two billion spectators, which was incredible. Two and a half million people on the streets of Doha and several hundred thousand every day in the stadiums, everyone together, cheering together, cheering for their team, fantastic atmosphere, great goals, joy amazing, and a surprise."

For the first time in the tournament's history, teams from every continent have advanced to the round of 16.

Among those competing at this stage were three nations from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), their first time in the tournament, and two from the African Football Confederation (CAF), for the second time in history.

"There are no more small teams or big teams", said Infantino. The levels are very, very balanced. Also for the first time, national teams from all continents qualified for the knockout stages, for the first time in history. This shows that football has become truly global", Infantino repeated.

"I believe we will reach five billion spectators worldwide. As far as stadium spectators are concerned, stadiums are always full for almost every game."