People look at ‘women's football in a completely different way’ after World Cup: FIFA’s president

euronews (in English)

Euronews spoke to FIFA President Gianni Infantino on the legacy of the World Cup on women's football.

Transcript

00:00 It was a tournament that broke new ground.

00:01 The first ever FIFA Women's World Cup on the continent

00:04 and first time winners too.

00:06 Australia and New Zealand will be remembered largely

00:08 for the co-host's incredible run to the semi-final,

00:11 which saw record-breaking TV viewerships

00:13 here in the country.

00:14 I spoke exclusively with the FIFA president,

00:16 Gianni Infantino, and asked him about the legacy

00:18 of the competition.

00:20 - I'm extremely happy, extremely proud.

00:22 This 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup

00:25 has simply been the greatest, the best

00:28 FIFA Women's World Cup ever.

00:30 Great atmosphere, full stadiums in the streets,

00:33 everywhere, the people joyful, happy.

00:36 Australia and New Zealand have been really fantastic,

00:39 fantastic hosts.

00:41 Back home, two billion viewers in the stadiums,

00:45 two million viewers.

00:46 Many, many records were broken, surprises,

00:50 results that we couldn't expect.

00:52 Eight newcomers, a new world champion.

00:56 I mean, what do you want more?

00:58 (laughs)

00:59 - Going forward, what would you say is the legacy

01:02 of this competition?

01:03 - Well, I think this FIFA Women's World Cup

01:06 has really had a transformational impact

01:11 in society, definitely.

01:14 Down under in Australia and New Zealand,

01:16 that's what everyone here is telling me,

01:18 but even globally, people are now viewing

01:24 women's football in a completely different way

01:28 because for many it was maybe the first time

01:30 that they were watching a game and they see

01:32 that actually it's a great sport, great athletes,

01:35 great technical skills, great tactical skills,

01:38 great emotions, great passion, the same as for the men.

01:41 And with extremely joyful atmosphere.

01:46 So I think that everyone is looking now

01:53 at women's football in a completely different way.

01:57 And this is exactly what we wanted to achieve

01:59 and from here, we move to the next level.

02:03 - And is that level, would you say now,

02:05 in terms of the record-breaking figures

02:07 that we've seen so far in this competition,

02:09 do you think we'll ever, or do you envisage a time

02:12 where as many eyes are on this competition

02:14 in terms of the viewing numbers

02:15 as on the men's World Cups of the past?

02:17 - Well, I think the future is definitely

02:21 for women's football and it's not just a PR thing.

02:25 It's not just something that we say,

02:27 it's really the facts and the figures which show it.

02:31 And half of the world population are women.

02:37 So it is obvious that this is going to grow,

02:41 this is going to prosper.

02:43 And I mean, already now, there are not many men's

02:48 competitions which can compete

02:49 with this FIFA Women's World Cup.

02:52 So starting from there, I think the path is all open

02:57 for this to become as big as the men's World Cup.

03:01 - Really appreciate your time, thank you very much.

03:03 - Thank you, thank you so much.

03:04 - Thanks, Gianni.

03:06 - So the FIFA president is bullish

03:07 about the future of women's football.

03:09 Over here, it would seem that the tournament

03:10 has transformed the mindset of the sport.

03:13 The location of the next World Cup yet to be decided,

03:15 but whoever the hosts are, there'll be an expectation

03:18 that 2027 is even bigger than what we've seen here

03:21 in both Australia and New Zealand.

03:22 Sam Ashu for Euronews in Sydney.

03:25 [Whoosh]

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