FIFA head honcho has cheeky drive-by at Australians ahead of home World Cup

FIFA Secretary-General Fatma Samoura has had a cheeky punt at Australians as the nation prepares to host a historic Women’s World Cup.

FIFA Secretary-general Fatma Samoura attends a press conference in Auckland on July 19, 2023, ahead of the Women’s World Cup football tournament. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP)

FIFA Secretary-General Fatma Samoura has had a drive-by at Australian football ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Speaking at the opening press conference alongside president Gianni Infantino at Auckland’s Park Hyatt, Samoura took questions on lacklustre tournament ticket sales in New Zealand, ongoing player compensation disputes and TV rights deals, as well as the significance of the first expanded Women’s World Cup with 32 teams.

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While discussing the finances and future growth of the sport, however, Samoura had a potshot at Australia’s relatively small place on the world stage, despite the nation’s ability to punch above its weight.

“People are starting to understand the importance of this competition,” Samoura said.

“And it means that the competition is starting to grow in other territories. That’s exactly what we want to do – making football truly global, and coming to a part of the world where it would usually not be the first choice for football lovers to come.”

FIFA president Gianni Infantino (R) and FIFA Secretary-General Fatma Samoura attend a press conference in Auckland ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP)

The description of Australia as not a “first choice for football lovers” is an intriguing one with the ongoing success of both men’s and women’s teams.

The Socceroos made the Round of 16 at the last Men’s World Cup over the likes of powerhouse European sides like Belgium and Germany, narrowly taking eventual champions Argentina to the wire in a thriller, while the Matildas have been consistently ranked inside the world’s top ten for over a decade, and only narrowly missed out on a bronze medal at the last Olympics.

That Australia has not laid claim to a FIFA tournament yet, given the obvious love Australians have for their national teams, is a matter of some controversy.

The 2023 edition of the World Cup will mark the first time Australia hosts a major FIFA tournament, having previously failed in bids for the 2022, 2018 and 2014 Men’s World Cups, as well as the 2011 and 2003 Women’s World Cups.

The 2022 edition of the men’s tournament was sullied by corruption allegations that the Qatari bid that defeated Australia at the final stages had offered money to FIFA officials in order to secure votes.

Phaedra Almajid was in charge of international press for the bid and made the allegations in a 2022 Netflix documentary series entitled FIFA Uncovered.

All officials accused of wrongdoing have denied the allegations.

Despite Samoura’s remarks, the overwhelming tone from herself and Infantino was that of positivity, with the pair dismissing calls from the Matildas (as well as other competing nations) over gender equity.

The Matildas came together earlier in the week to call for FIFA to increase funding to the women’s game, with the prize money for the tournament totalling $162m, a fraction of the $646m given out after the men’s tournament in Qatar last year.

“Money is always a tricky and sensitive issue,” Infantino said in response to questions about gender equity.

“Today is the eve of the opening game at the Women’s World Cup.

“It’s a moment to focus on the positives, to focus on the happiness and the joy.

“If somebody’s not still not happy about something, well I’m sorry.

“I’m happy with everything and I love everyone.”

Originally published as FIFA head honcho has cheeky drive-by at Australians ahead of home World Cup