FIFA President Gianni Infantino declared the World Cup a success at the United Nations on Friday, highlighting the tournament's ability to unite people from around the world.
Infantino brought one of the official game balls to be used in Sunday's World Cup final between Argentina and Spain to the stage, calling it "a magic object which has the power to unite the world."
"We hear it many times, don't we, that we live in a divided world, that we live in an aggressive world, that there are so many things that divide us, that create us problems," Infantino said. "But we know as well, and if there is one thing, if there is one thing that this World Cup has shown us and is showing us, we know that there are many more things that bring us together than things that divide us."
This year's World Cup was the largest in history, with 48 teams qualifying and matches spread out over the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Despite concerns about high ticket prices and immigration issues, total attendance for the tournament is expected to reach a record 6.7 million.
FIFA has reported that stadiums have been nearly full for each of the 102 matches played so far, with only two remaining: the France-England game for third place on Saturday and Sunday's final in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Infantino pointed to the tournament as an example of how sport can bring people together, saying, "We have seen millions of people coming together in the last month and a half to the United States, to Canada and to Mexico, but in every corner of the world, coming together in a peaceful way, in a joyful way, wanting to spend time together and wanting to celebrate a moment of community."
However, the tournament has not been without controversy. The Iranian team faced travel restrictions and was narrowly knocked out in the group stage, while Infantino faced criticism for lifting U.S. star Folarin Balogun's red-card suspension following urging from President Donald Trump.
Additionally, the British government has urged FIFA to investigate Argentina's soccer team after players posed with a banner claiming sovereignty over the Falkland Islands after their semifinal win against England.
Despite these challenges, Infantino emphasized the importance of using sport to promote unity and community. He pledged that FIFA would "lend our full support" to youth mental health causes, saying that the topic should be taken seriously.
As the tournament comes to a close, Infantino reflected on the power of football to bring people together. "In two days, we will know if Spain or Argentina will be the world champion," he said. "But what we know already, dear friends, is that football is not just the most popular sport in the world, but football has definitely become that common, that universal language that everyone speaks because everyone wants to come together."
Source: Yahoo Sports