Infantino says World Cup will be health ‘benchmark’ for global sporting events

(FILES) In this file photo taken on February 11, 2021, FIFA chief Gianni Infantino takes off a mask during an interview in the Qatari capital Doha ahead of the Club World Cup final amid the Covid-19 pandemic. – Infantino said on February 10, 2022 this year’s World Cup finals in Qatar will become a “benchmark” for holding future global sporting events during a health crisis. The Qatari organisers of the 32 nation event that starts November 21 and runs till December 18 said they are “cautiously optimistic” it will be the first mass gathering of sports fans for a global sports event since the coronavirus pandemic erupted two years ago. (Photo by Karim JAAFAR / AFP)

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Thursday this year’s World Cup finals in Qatar will become a “benchmark” for holding future global sporting events during a health crisis.

The Qatari organisers of the 32 nation event that starts November 21 and runs till December 18 said they are “cautiously optimistic” it will be the first mass gathering of sports fans for a global sports event since the coronavirus pandemic erupted two years ago.

Spectators have largely been forbidden from attending last year’s Tokyo Summer Olympics — save for a few events outside the Japanese capital — and the ongoing Winter Olympics in China.

FIFA announced this week that requests have been made for 17 million tickets for the first World Cup in the Arab region and sought to reassure fans about safety measures during an online health conference organised by the Qatar authorities.

Football has a duty “to make sure this not only the best World Cup ever but also the healthiest World Cup ever,” Infantino said in a recorded statement for the event.

He added that the health and security standards