Infantino: The economy of football is European.

Gianni Infantino, the President of FIFA, made a strong call for increased investments in football, especially within the United States, noting that "70% of the global football GDP is currently generated in Europe," while America contributes only about 3%.

Infantino explained, during his participation in the 29th annual Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles, that the total GDP value of football is approximately $300 billion annually, considering that the United States could raise its contribution to $100 billion a year if investors believe in the local market.

The FIFA president expressed his astonishment at American capital's tendency to invest in European clubs instead of investing within their own country, explaining that "one of the most surprising things in sports business is that Americans do not believe in America, and that is something I cannot understand."

Infantino urged investors to elevate Major League Soccer to compete with the best European leagues, emphasizing that bringing stars like Argentine Lionel Messi is an important step, but "you cannot rely on just one player; you must bring in the best players and also train local talents" to truly make the game global.

Regarding the economic aspects of the 2026 World Cup, Infantino revealed in statements reported by FIFA's official website that the tournament, which will feature 48 teams, will provide nearly 800,000 job opportunities and will have a global economic impact estimated at $80 billion.

He stressed that FIFA is a non-profit organization that reinvests all its revenues into developing the game worldwide, explaining that "150 countries might not have structured and organized football without the revenues generated from an event like the World Cup."