Xi meets Fifa boss as China eyes World Cup
BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Fifa chief Gianni Infantino on Wednesday as the football world watches for signs that the Asian giant will make a bid to host a World Cup.
Xi greeted Infantino in the capital’s palatial Great Hall of the People but the two men did not mention China’s World Cup ambitions as they exchanged pleasantries before their closed-door meeting.
The talks follow widespread speculation that China will bid to host the event either in 2030 or 2034.
“President Infantino, since becoming president of Fifa you have provided great support to the development and reform of football as a sport in China,” said China’s football-mad president. “I wish to express my appreciation for what you have done.”
“We are aware of the fact that Fifa is paying more attention to the development of football in China these days, and I do believe ChinaFifa cooperation has a good future,” he said. Infantino thanked Xi, adding: “We can really start a new era of football, not only in China, President Xi, but in the whole world because we are really passionate about football.”
Three major Chinese companies have signed sponsorship deals with Fifa in the space of a year, fuelling speculation that China is preparing a World Cup bid.
Infantino met on Tuesday with Wang Jianlin, chairman of one of the sponsors, Chinese conglomerate Wanda. positi on when it holds a meeting of its technical committee,” he added. The technical committee is due to meet as early as Thursday, with the agenda likely to be dominated by discussions over Stielike, KFA officials said. South Korea, seeking their ninth consecutive World Cup appearance, are clinging to the second automatic qualifying spot, seven points beh ind alreadyqualified Iran