FIFA/Women's World Cup 2023: "Discussions with Visit Saudi didn't lead to a contract" (G. Infantino)

"There were discussions with Visit Saudi (Saudi Arabia's national tourism board) and in the end this discussion did not lead to a contract" for the Women's World Cup 2023, said Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, during the body's 73^rd Congress at which he was re-elected by acclamation for a four-year term (2023-2027), on 16/03/2023.

This partnership project, revealed by the press in February 2023, had provoked strong protests from the federations of the competition's host countries (Australia and New Zealand), the NGO Amnesty International and several international players including Americans Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe. "Football Australia has consulted on this matter with key stakeholders, including government and commercial partners, and it was an overwhelming consensus that this partnership does not align with our collective vision for the tournament and falls short of our expectations," said James Johnson, CEO of Football Australia, at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Congress in Bahrain on 01/02/2023.

"There was a storm in a teacup. There isn't anything bad in making…