Infantino thanks FEGUIFUT president while reflecting on decade-long FIFA leadership

Gianni Infantino has expressed gratitude to Venancio Tomás Ndong Michá for his continued backing as he celebrated a decade at the helm of FIFA.

Infantino reached the milestone on February 26, 2026, marking ten years since he first assumed office following the governance crisis that engulfed the organization in 2015.

The Swiss administrator succeeded Sepp Blatter after the latter stepped down amid corruption scandals, while Michel Platini was disqualified from the race to lead the global body.

In an open letter addressed to the president of the Equatorial Guinea Football Federation, Infantino thanked Ndong Michá for his support during his presidency and highlighted the strong working relationship between FIFA and the Equatorial Guinea federation.

Infantino described the partnership as part of FIFA’s broader commitment to strengthening football development across Africa through collaboration with national associations.

Since taking office in 2016, Infantino has overseen major structural and financial reforms within FIFA. The organization has moved from reporting losses of USD 122 million in 2015 to projecting revenues of approximately USD 13 billion for the 2023–2026 cycle.

The financial turnaround has been accompanied by expanded development funding through the “FIFA Forward” programme, which has distributed more than USD 5 billion to FIFA’s 211 member associations since its launch.

Under his leadership, global football competitions have also expanded significantly. The men’s FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature 48 teams for the first time when it is hosted by United States, Canada and Mexico.

The women’s edition is also set to grow to 48 teams beginning in 2031 following the successful introduction of a 32-team format in 2023.

FIFA has additionally launched the new 32-team FIFA Club World Cup, alongside plans to introduce new competitions in women’s club football and futsal.

Women’s football development has remained a central pillar of Infantino’s administration. Prize money for the FIFA Women’s World Cup has increased dramatically to USD 152 million, ten times the amount awarded in 2015 and triple that of the 2019 tournament.

Technological advancements such as the implementation of the Video Assistant Referee system and semi-automated offside technology have also been introduced to modernize the game, while regulatory reforms for football agents and financial clearing mechanisms have been implemented to improve governance.

Infantino, who was re-elected unopposed in 2019 and again in 2023, is eligible to remain FIFA president until 2031 under the organization’s term-limit rules.

A decade after taking office, his tenure reflects a period of financial recovery, expansion of global competitions and continued debate around governance, human rights and the international football calendar.

For African football, Infantino’s presidency has coincided with increased engagement between FIFA and national associations, with leaders such as Ndong Michá seen as key partners in driving development projects and strengthening football infrastructure across the continent.