The changing face of FIFA: How football’s got even more global in Gianni Infantino’s decade in charge

Ten years is a long time in any industry, but in football it often feels like a lifetime, especially when you're sitting in the top job of the game as FIFA President. 

Gianni Infantino today celebrates 10 years since he took over football's highest role, becoming the first Italian to hold the post, and it has been a transformative decade for the sport. 

FIFA President is always a position that comes with its criticisms and difficulties. One thing is for sure, Infantino has overseen a tenure that has expanded the global reach of the game more than ever before. 

World Cup expansion 

One of the biggest changes seen during Infantino's reign has been the ever-expanding growth of the FIFA World Cup. 

Although he wasn't in charge during the selection process for the 2018 and 2022 finals, he was the figurehead during the tournaments, as the World Cup was held in Russia for the first time and then its biggest expansion yet, as Qatar hosted its first-ever winter finals in 2022. 

Under his watch, that will continue for 2030, when the World Cup celebrates 100 years by holding a unique version of the competition where games will be played across several different continents. Then in 2034 with Saudi Arabia being chosen as hosts. 

The growth isn't just signified in locations either, but by competitors, too. This summer will see the biggest-ever World Cup finals, with Infantino heading up a decision to increase the number of teams in the competition to 48, thus allowing a generation of nations to experience the festivities like never before. 

In 2026, that will extend to Curacao, Jordan, Cape Verde and Uzbekistan, who will all compete on football's biggest stage for the very first time. 

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FIFA Club World Cup 

The game's wider exclusion hasn't just been for the international game, either, because Infantino has been part of a FIFA team that has also revamped the FIFA Club World Cup and taken it to another level. 

2025 saw a first taste of this new tournament, as club football took the lead from major international tournaments and was given a summer competition that saw 32 teams from across the globe compete to be world champions.

From the game's elite in Real Madrid, Manchester City and European champions PSG, to Auckland City of Oceania, South America's very best and as hosts, Lionel Messi's Inter Miami. 

Giving the spotlight to teams from each continent in what was a month of enthralling action that resulted in a win for Premier League side Chelsea, who were victors of the brand-new, revamped competition. 

Having seen the success of the men's tournament, a women's version has now been actioned and the inaugural FIFA Women's Club World Cup will take place in 2028. 

Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

A continued vision 

Infantino's influence on hosting a women's FIFA Club World Cup also continues the work FIFA has done during his time at the top in helping the growth of the female game. 

Prize money has increased significantly, while the overall profile of major competitions is on a grander and more global scale than ever before. 

Structures have also been put in place to continue to improve the coaching, referring, and administration, something that had previously not been implemented. 

It's these expansions across both the men's and women's game that has seen a great deal of change in the decade Infantino has been in charge, and while there are always issues to address and plans and practices wanted quicker, the global reach will no doubt continue under the 9th President of FIFA's tenure. 

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