FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the 2026 FIFA World Cup has surpassed every expectation and is the greatest tournament of all time [1].
The statement comes as the event reaches its climax, marking a significant milestone for soccer's popularity in the U.S. and the organizational capacity of the host nation to manage a record-breaking global sporting event.
Infantino spoke during a reception hosted at Trump Tower in New York City [2]. The event took place shortly before the scheduled final match between Argentina and Spain on Sunday [2]. During the gathering, Infantino said the tournament's mission was uniting people worldwide and praised the United States for its role in the event's success [3].
"The 2026 FIFA World Cup has surpassed every expectation and has been the greatest FIFA World Cup of all time," Infantino said [1]. He said the tournament was the greatest sporting event in history [3].
The scale of the event has been reflected in attendance figures. One million stadium fans have attended matches throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup [4].
Donald Trump, who hosted the reception, also commented on the success of the tournament. "America has won," Trump said [3].
Infantino's remarks emphasize the commercial and cultural impact of the tournament as it concludes. The event has seen unprecedented engagement across the host cities, cementing the U.S. as a primary hub for international soccer.
“The 2026 FIFA World Cup has surpassed every expectation and has been the greatest FIFA World Cup of all time.”
The praise from FIFA leadership underscores the successful expansion and commercialization of the World Cup in North America. By labeling the 2026 edition as the greatest in history, Infantino is validating the high-risk, high-reward strategy of increasing tournament size and leveraging U.S. infrastructure to maximize global viewership and attendance.
