FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the World Cup had opened very successfully and exceeded his expectations after attending five matches in five stadiums in three host countries.
Infantino made the remarks in Miami on the opening day of the 2026 FIFA Football Executive Summit.
Launched in 2016, the first year of Infantino's tenure as FIFA president, the summit provides a platform for FIFA leaders and representatives from member associations to discuss various programs, initiatives, and policies.
This year's summit, which runs until June 17, includes sessions on the evolution of the FIFA Forward Programme, youth competitions, FIFA's digital strategy, and other topics.
Infantino said he was delighted to see "a fantastic atmosphere (and) full stadiums," with average attendances exceeding 63,000 for the opening eight matches.
Infantino also praised the quality of football on display, saying the tournament had highlighted the growing competitiveness of teams worldwide. The FIFA president cited Switzerland's 1-1 draw with Qatar at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium as an example.
"This wasn't one of the opening matches involving the host nation. Qatar played Switzerland in San Francisco: 68,000 spectators, a full stadium. It was absolutely beautiful and a surprising result for some, but not for others," he told the assembled representatives of member associations.
"What also surprised me in a positive way was the atmosphere. You saw so many children, so many families coming to watch the games. This may be unusual for some football events, but it created a very beautiful atmosphere," Infantino said.
"We had a very peaceful environment, a very lively environment, from Mexico City to everywhere else. And this is what this World Cup is all about," he said.
