Sheinbaum attends the 2026 World Cup final in New York

The 2026 World Cup final will not only define the champion. He has also put the spotlight on Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA who heads the organizing body of the most important soccer tournament.

Giovanni Vincenzo Infantino, known as Gianni Infantino, was born on March 23, 1970 in Switzerland, the son of Italian parents. He grew up in Brig and was inclined towards sports management from a young age. At the age of 18 he presided over the local club, then studied Law and worked at the International Center for Sports Studies (CIES) before arriving at UEFA.

Career

In August 2000 he joined UEFA in legal matters. In 2004 he was director of Legal Affairs and Licensing, and in 2007 deputy general secretary. By 2009 he was already secretary general, a position from which he promoted Financial Fair Play, the expansion of Euro 2016 to 24 teams and the creation of the League of Nations.

In October 2015 he announced his candidacy for FIFA. On February 26, 2016, he was elected president in Zurich, with 115 votes in the second round, beating Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa. He took office after an institutional crisis due to previous controversies.

World Cups under his management

Infantino has presided over the 2018 Russia and Qatar 2022 World Cups, both surrounded by debates about their choice as venues. He also promoted the expansion of the 2026 World Cup from 32 to 48 teams, a format that will debut in Mexico, the United States and Canada.

He is fluent in seven languages: Italian, French, German, English, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic. He is married to a woman of Lebanese origin and has four children.

The World Cup final at the New York/New Jersey stadium had a star-studded closing ceremony. Madonna opened the show with her hit Music (2000), accompanied by former Brazilian soccer players Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. He opened with a pre-recorded segment at a skating rink and then entered the stadium in a dune buggy, singing: “Music brings people together.”

Participants of the show

Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel led an orchestra performing Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes, while the Muppets moved to the rhythm. BTS took to the field dressed in red and black to sing Dynamite. To promote the series Ted Lasso, Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt cheered on Justin Bieber, who performed Everything Hallelujah. Shakira and Burna Boy sang their anthem Dai Dai, which played before each kickoff in the tournament. The closing was with a choir of Staten Island elementary students.

Performances prior to the final

At the previous ceremony, Robbie Williams performed Desire in a blue sports ensemble with rhinestones, accompanied by Nicole Scherzinger and Laura Pausini. Streamer IShowSpeed ​​opened with Champions over an image of the Empire State Building. Post Malone premiered Chrome Heartbreaker and then sang Sunflower with Swae Lee on a hexagonal stage in the center of the field. Tom Cruise, in a polo and jeans, gave a speech:

“Today there are only two teams left: Spain! … and Argentina! Let’s celebrate a tournament that united the world.”

National anthems live

Jennifer Hudson performed a cappella The Star-Spangled Banner in front of a row of flags, wearing a white suit trimmed in red, white and blue. Spanish Brass performed the Spanish royal march and María Becerra, wearing a dress that evoked the Argentine flag, sang the Argentine national anthem.

Gold for Mexico in diving

The Mexican duo made up of Randal Willars and Kevin Berlin took the gold medal in the synchronized 10-meter platform, within the event held at the Metropolitan Aquatic Center.

With a dedicated fan base, the divers showed synchronicity and technical difficulty from their first jumps. Their performance was consistent and allowed them to extend the advantage over their rivals.

A resounding victory

Willars and Berlin accumulated 414.72 points, surpassing Great Britain, which won silver with 389.46, and Colombia, which took bronze after adding 357.51.

Both athletes already have Olympic experience and demonstrated why they are leaders on the continent. The medal reaffirms the level of Mexican diving and was a way of thanking the support of the public that filled the stands.

The performance closed an outstanding participation by Mexico in the discipline, after the sisters Mia and Lia Cueva also climbed to the top of the podium.