FIFA president Gianni Infantino addressed MLS owners in person at the league’s Board of Governors meeting today in Los Angeles, becoming the first FIFA president to attend the league’s board meeting since MLS’s founding in 1996.
“I was very happy for the first time that the FIFA president comes to an MLS meeting of this nature,” Infantino told The Athletic. “We have great events coming up here in North America with the new Club World Cup next year, the World Cup in ‘26, so a lot of promotion for soccer, or football as we call it.”
The MLS Board of Governors consists of a representative from ownership of each of the league’s 30 teams and is led by Commissioner Don Garber. The board meets in person three times per year and often uses those meetings to discuss league business and vote on league initiatives.
It is not yet known what Infantino discussed with owners at the meeting.
FIFA declined to comment further when asked about the world governing body’s removal as a defendant in Relevent Sports’ antitrust lawsuit, beyond the organization’s already-issued statement. The development is seen as a potential indicator that FIFA could change its policy on allowing domestic league competitions to hold games outside of their home territories – in effect, making the U.S. a potential host of games from big European leagues like the Premier League.
“It’s important to work together to push the promotion of the game in North America and all over the world and from that point of view for me, it was very interesting, and looking forward to continue working together,” Infantino said.
This story will be updated.
(Top photo: ULIEN DE ROSA/AFP via Getty Images)
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