FIFA President Gianni Infantino has visited Brazil where he met the President of the Brazilian Football Association (CBF), Ednaldo Rodrigues, and attended the first leg of the Copa do Brasil final in São Paulo. He was presented to the two teams on the pitch before kick off in the match between Corinthians and Flamengo and to the President of Corinthians, Duílio Monteiro Alves, and the President of Flamengo, Rodolfo Landim. FIFA Council member Fernando Sarney and the Paulista Football Association (FPF) President Reinaldo Carneiro Bastos were also present.

“I am very happy to welcome Gianni Infantino and members of his management team to the final of our competition,” said Mr Rodrigues. “The FIFA President is our partner in the numerous changes that we are promoting in Brazilian football, and he can witness the strength of the Copa de Brasil, the most democratic football competition in the country.” The Copa do Brasil is Brazil’s nationwide cup competition and features teams from all 26 Brazilian states plus the Federal District. The match ended 0-0 and the second leg will be played in Rio de Janeiro on 19 October.

“It was a great honour to watch this match and witness once again the remarkable passion of Brazilian football and its supporters at first hand,” said the FIFA President. “Corinthians and Flamengo are among the best supported clubs in the world, with millions of supporters each. The atmosphere was spectacular, and it was an unforgettable evening, even if there weren’t any goals. I’d like to thank Ednaldo Rodrigues and his team for the great work they are doing for Brazilian football.” The two Presidents previously met in Paris last month following the friendly match between Brazil and Tunisia.

Before visiting Brazil, the FIFA President was in Paraguay where he received the unanimous backing of all ten member associations of CONMEBOL ahead of the elective 73rd FIFA Congress, which takes place in Kigali, Rwanda on 16 March 2023.