{
  "id": 718933,
  "title": "Malawi FA chief backs Infantino, credits Fifa investment for World Cup breakthrough",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/malawi-fa-chief-backs-infantino-credits-fifa-investment-for-world-cup",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-13T00:41:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2026/08/13/malawi-fa-chief-backs-infantino-credits-fifa-investment-for-world-cup-breakthrough"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Fifa president Gianni Infantino's proposal to raise US$4.2 billion by selling a stake in the commercial rights of tournaments was withdrawn due to governance concerns. Malawi's football association president, Fleetwood Haiya, credits Infantino's investment in African football for the country's qualification for the 2027 Women's World Cup. Haiya believes that every nation that supports equal opportunity for football development will back Infantino. The US$20 million grant offered with Infantino's proposal could have been doubled if member associations signed the deal. Haiya hopes Infantino will be replaced by a plan that provides financial assistance to poorer member associations. Malawi, one of the poorest nations, would see a significant improvement in football development with a US$40 million investment.",
  "summary": "Malawi's qualification for the 2027 Women's World Cup prompted its football association to credit Fifa's investment in African football under Fifa president Gianni Infantino.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Malawi FA chief backs Infantino, credits FIFA investment for World Cup breakthrough",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/malawi-fa-chief-backs-infantino-credits-fifa-investment-for-world-cup",
        "published": "2026-08-12T15:58:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Malawi FA chief backs Infantino, credits Fifa investment for World Cup breakthrough",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/malawi-fa-chief-backs-infantino-credits-fifa-investment-for-world-cup-720761",
        "published": "2026-08-13T00:41:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport Football",
        "title": "FAI withdraws Infantino support as IFA backs Uefa",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/fai-withdraws-infantino-support-as-ifa-backs-uefa",
        "published": "2026-08-13T11:05:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Qatar, Morocco among six Arab federations backing FIFA's Infantino",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/qatar-morocco-among-six-arab-federations-backing-fifas-infantino-761221",
        "published": "2026-08-13T11:33:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "SABC News",
        "title": "Qatar, Morocco among six Arab federations backing FIFA’s Infantino",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/qatar-morocco-among-six-arab-federations-backing-fifas-infantino-775150",
        "published": "2026-08-13T14:07:41.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Doha News",
        "title": "Qatar, Arab Football Federations issue joint statement supporting FIFA’s Infantino",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/qatar-arab-football-federations-issue-joint-statement-supporting",
        "published": "2026-08-13T20:36:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}