On the eve of the final of the club World Cup, FIFA president Gianni Infantino greeted the tournament a success, learn from criticism of the event about issues ranging from extreme heat to stadiums that were only half full for some games.
Infantino said he would rather have more fans in larger stadiums, even if it meant that they did not fill them and suggested that stadiums with roofs could get priority for day competitions during the World Cup of next year, which will also be hosted in the United States together with Canada and Mexico.
«Of course every criticism we receive is a source for us to study, to analyze to see what we can do better,» said Infantino at a media event in Trump Tower in New York on Saturday.
«I prefer, I don’t know, 35,000 people in a stadium of 80,000 seats instead of 20,000 in a stadium of 20,000 seats,» he said.
«The heat is definitely a problem. It is a problem around the world … We also have stadiums that are being treated. So we will certainly use these stadiums more,» Infantino added.
The FIFA president also said that the idea that European spectators and clubs were particularly critical was unfounded.
«We should not say that the opinion of Europe is very bad about this because it is not true. I spoke with the teams that came here. They have all been happy to come here. For the fans who came here, they are all happy to come here,» Infantino said.
Brazilian Great Ronaldo, who was at the event together with other former players, repeated FIFA president and said that the criticism had been limited.
«I just saw two boys do the criticisms about the FIFA Club World Cup. One of them, he hates everything else except the League,» said Ronaldo.
«And the other – we respect the opinion, but I think that as the president told you about the facts and figures and the enthusiasm of the people and the fans and the quality of the games, I think it has been a huge success.»
With US President Donald Trump, the final started to attend, Defantino defended his close relationship with the current government and said that it was fundamental importance to organize the Mega events.
“(Trump) immediately embraced the importance of the FIFA Club World Cup. And then, of course, the World Cup next year.
«You can’t even think of organizing an event like this, such as the Club World Cup … without the complete involvement and full support of the government,» he said.
Paris Saint-Germain will be confronted on Sunday with Chelsea in the final of the tournament at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey.
