SAFA president Danny Jordaan has met up with FIFA president Gianni Infantino in France, where he was part of many member associations to visit the #TheBest Awards that were held in Paris on Monday – but he also had another mission.
Jordaan told iDiski Times that he had a meeting with FIFA president Gianni Infantino as Mzansi is bidding to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2027.
South Africa started to express an interest in hosting the Women’s World Cup since last year and has even been given the government’s guarantees and backing.
Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa, sent a letter to Jordaan saying the department is proud to support the Association’s expression of interest to bid to host the global showpiece, adding in the statement last month that “we wish SAFA all the best with the expression of interest, and should SAFA be invited to bid, there will be further liaison between SAFA, SASCOC and DSAC”.
The Minister’s support comes on the back of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) giving SAFA president a letter of support for the bid in October last year.
“I had a meeting with the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino,” said Jordaan from Paris where Lionel Messi was named FIFA The Best Men’s Player of 2022.
“We discussed the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, reflected on the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and the first 48 Nations FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.”
Jordaan was at the heart of the 2010 FIFA Men’s World Cup as the CEO of the Local Organising Committee when Sep Blatter was the FIFA president, with Mzansi winning the hosting rights on 15 May 2004.
It was regarded as one of the best World Cup in 2010 that brought back life in the coffers of FIFA.
“We also discussed the South African bid for the 2027 FIFA Women World Cup,” added Jordaan.
“We further discussed a visit of Arsene Wenger [FIFA’s chief global development] to South Africa.
“The meeting was held in the office of FIFA in Paris, France.”
South Africa’s dreams of hosting another World Cup, though, perhaps suffered a blow after the country was recently grey listed – a warning to the international businesses that if they invest in South Africa with the aim of getting their returns those chances are not guaranteed because of the economic climate.
Mzansi also faces a tough competition from several proposed bids for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with a joint bid from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands the only confirmed bid so far.
Story by Robin-Duke Madlala (@duke_robin).
