LOS ANGELES — FIFA president Gianni Infantino addressed Major League Soccer’s collective ownership on Tuesday, marking the first time in 27 years that a person in his position has attended an MLS Board of Governors meeting.
Speaking at the Ritz-Carlton in downtown, Infantino said he was very happy to express his thoughts to America’s top-division power players ahead of the next Club World Cup and men’s World Cup, both of which are set to take place in North America.
“It’s important to work together to push the promotion of the game in North America and all over the world,” Infantino said. “From that point of view, for me, it was very interesting and I look forward to continue working together.”
Infantino shared his thoughts on the state of soccer in the U.S., the MLS, the impact of growing the game on the fan level, commitments and investments for soccer-specific infrastructure, and continuing to grow the sport’s supporter culture, according to MLS commissioner Don Garber.
Owners and executives representing the league’s 30 teams during the two-day conference declined to comment on Infantino’s presentation or any other developments following the first of three in-person board of governors sessions this year.
“I think he has very strong views that this is just the beginning of a journey where MLS can continue to evolve and grow with the right level of investment and the right level of support to reach really tremendous new heights,” Garber said.
“We have always had an aspiration to be one of the top leagues in the world, and I think we’re on our path to achieve that but we know we have a lot of work to do,” the commissioner added. “Now having FIFA pay more attention to our league and what we can do to help the global game is super positive. I thanked him for his engagement with us and I look forward to spending more time with people at FIFA.”
Voted into office in February 2016 following the impeachment of Sepp Blatter, Infantino was re-elected unopposed for a third and final four-year term as FIFA president in March of 2023.
Along with more than a hundred staff members from FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich, the Swiss-born Infantino, 54, recently moved from Qatar, site of the 2022 World Cup, to Coral Gables, Florida, as preparations are underway for the expanded 48-team men’s World Cup in 2026.
“We’ve been working very closely with CONCACAF for many, many years now because we want our region to be a powerful region in the world of global soccer, global football,” said Garber, serving his 25th year as MLS commissioner. “And now to be able to have a closer relationship with FIFA and with its president to help both our region but also soccer at all levels in the United States and Canada is fantastic.
“I think it speaks to or underscores the importance of the North American soccer market. FIFA is embracing the opportunity here to grow the game. It’s exciting to see the enthusiasm that exists, both at the FIFA level and at the CONCACAF level with where we are today, but probably most important what potential we have to make soccer the preeminent sport in this country.”