This document lays out a plan to further modernise the football world, make it increasingly inclusive and pave the way to a landscape in which, one day, we will have around 50 national teams and 50 clubs from all continents at a top competitive level. This is a vision to make football truly global.
Italy
With Roberto Mancini, the numbers rarely tell the full story. A perfect example would be his tally of zero FIFA World Cup™ appearances as a player. Those who never saw him in action might conclude from this figure that, as a footballer, Mancini was unremarkable. Nothing, of course, could be further from the truth.
Becoming Italy coach equated, he said, to “being given a second chance”. And the 56-year-old has grasped that opportunity decisively. A team decried as Italy’s worst of all time – the first in six decades to miss out on a World Cup – has been transformed into a side that is unbeaten in 28 matches and has won its last nine by an aggregate score of 28-0.
Again, though, those numbers – impressive as they are – only tell part of the story. Just as notable has been the radical shift in style that Mancini has overseen, with those wins and goals built on an adventurous, attacking approach.
There was plenty to unpick, therefore, as Mancini spoke to FIFA.com in the wake of a 3-0 win over Turkey that has sent his team soaring up the list of UEFA EURO 2020 favourites.
With Roberto Mancini, the numbers rarely tell the full story. A perfect example would be his tally of zero FIFA World Cup™ appearances as a player. Those who never saw him in action might conclude from this figure that, as a footballer, Mancini was unremarkable. Nothing, of course, could be further from the truth.
Mancini himself laments as “absurd” his underwhelming international career – a long, painful story of ill luck, the emergence of Roberto Baggio and two costly fallouts with coaches.
Becoming Italy boss himself equated, he said, to “being given a second chance”. And the 56-year-old has grasped that opportunity decisively. A team decried as Italy’s worst of all time – the first in six decades to miss out on a World Cup – has been transformed into a side that is unbeaten in 28 matches and has won its last nine by an aggregate score of 28-0.
Again, though, those numbers – impressive as they are – only tell part of the story, as Mancini explained in this exclusive interview with FIFA.com.
For many reasons, I didn’t achieve the success I wanted. I hope that all I missed as a player might be achieved as a coach.
Sweden
Caroline Seger stands on the verge of history. Over the next week, the Sweden skipper will make her 214th and 215th international appearances, becoming the most-capped player not only in her country, but the entire continent of Europe.
The record to which she is about to lay claim is currently shared by two of the game’s greats: Birgit Prinz and Therese Sjogran. The latter was a midfield mentor to Seger in her early days with the national team and is now sporting director at her club, FC Rosengard. She also happens to be her best friend.
But for all the glory - and personal bragging rights - that becoming a European record-breaker will bring, Seger is looking deeper into the horizon. The upcoming Olympics - her fourth - glistens there invitingly, and so too does next year’s UEFA Women’s EURO. Should her form, fitness and motivation levels remain high, we might even see the 36-year-old lead out Sweden in 2023, at what would be her fifth FIFA Women’s World Cup™ and 14th major tournament in yellow and blue.
There was, therefore, plenty to look forward to as Seger sat down with FIFA.com to discuss setting benchmarks, scoring penalties and smoothing the path for Ferrari-driving youngsters.
Caroline Seger stands on the verge of history. Over the next week, the Sweden skipper will make her 214th and 215th international appearances, becoming the most-capped player not only in her country, but the entire continent of Europe.
But for all the glory that becoming a European record-breaker will bring, Seger is looking deeper into the horizon. The upcoming Olympics - her fourth - glistens there invitingly, and so too does next year’s UEFA Women’s EURO. Should her form, fitness and motivation levels remain high, we might even see the 36-year-old lead out Sweden in 2023, at what would be her fifth FIFA Women’s World Cup™ and 14th major tournament in yellow and blue.
There was, therefore, plenty to look forward to as Seger sat down with FIFA.com to discuss setting benchmarks, scoring penalties and smoothing the path for Ferrari-driving youngsters.
In all my years with the national team, I don’t ever remember us playing as well as we did at the World Cup in France.
Peru
The undisputed first-choice for his country, Pedro Gallese was one of Peru's key figures when they graced the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ after a 36-year absence from the world stage.
The FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2007, when he was an unused substitute, kickstarted his career and paved the way for him turning professional a year later. He debuted with the senior national team in 2014, although it would be current coach, Ricardo Gareca, who came to depend on his litheness and reflexes when he took up the reins back in March 2015.
Since then, the player they call El Pulpo (the Octopus) or Tarantula has only ever missed games through injury, setting two records in the process: he is Peru’s most-capped goalkeeper (62 appearances to date) and the one with the most FIFA World Cup qualifying games to his name (18).
Now one of the pillars of the team, Gallese spoke with FIFA.com about Peru's weak start in the qualifiers for Qatar 2022, where they currently sit second-last with just one point from four games, as well as their next opponents and qualification chances. In addition, he talked about his beginnings in the game, his hobbies, life with MLS side Orlando City and the upcoming Copa America.
The undisputed first-choice for his country, Pedro Gallese was one of Peru's key figures when they graced the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ after a 36-year absence from the world stage.
The player they call El Pulpo (the Octopus) or Tarantula has set two records in the process: he is Peru’s most-capped goalkeeper (62 appearances to date) and the one with the most FIFA World Cup qualifying games to his name (18).
Now one of the pillars of the team, Gallese spoke with FIFA.com about Peru's weak start in the qualifiers for Qatar 2022, where they currently sit second-last with just one point from four games, as well as their next opponents and qualification chances. In addition, he talked about his beginnings in the game, his hobbies, life with MLS side Orlando City and the upcoming Copa America.
Even if I never get to experience it again, I’ll remember every minute of those three games in Russia.
Podium unchanged ahead of busy schedule
Discover
Belgium
Pts. 1783.38
France
Pts. 1757.3
Brazil
Pts. 1742.65
England
Pts. 1686.78
Portugal
Pts. 1666.12
Spain
Pts. 1648.13
Dutch on the podium, USA retain top spot
Discover
USA
Pts. 2200.39
Germany
Pts. 2089.23
Netherlands
Pts. 2038.61
France
Pts. 2029.93
Sweden
Pts. 2016.63
England
Pts. 1973.98
As the world’s number one sport, football is uniquely placed to strengthen initiatives that can improve the lives of young people around the world.
