Havelange, who was suffering from a
FIFA Coins respiratory infection, died early Tuesday while Rio de Janeiro was hosting the Olympic Games, according to the Samaritano Hospital.In 2009, Havelange led off Rio's bid presentation to the International Olympic Committee in Copenhagen by inviting the members to vote to "join me in celebrating my 100th birthday'" at the 2016 Games in Brazil. FILE - In this Nov. 22, 2010 file photo, former FIFA President Joao Havelange gives an interview at the Soccerex Global Convention in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
On Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, a Brazilian hospital announced that Havelange has died in Brazil. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File)The Brazilian flag was lowered to half-staff at Olympic venues and the IOC said its "thoughts are with the family and loved ones" of Havelange.FIFA President Gianni Infantino lavished praise on Havelange, saying the "whole football community should be grateful" for his contribution."
During his 24 years as FIFA president football became truly global, reaching new territories and bringing the game to all corners of the world," Infantino said.Havelange expanded the World Cup from 16 to 32 teams and made it one of sports' most important events. He organized six World Cups as FIFA president from 1974 to 1998, when Sepp Blatter replaced him.
He secured lucrative broadcast deals, brought nations into
Cheap FUT Coins and created the women's World Cup.Blatter said Havelange will always be synonymous with the expansion of soccer and turning it into the "universal language.""Football thus owes him a huge debt of gratitude," Blatter said in a statement."
Switzerland, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)In his presidential acclamation campaign, Infantino accurate accretion the affray and hosting aloft a region."These two accommodation will in
Madden Mobile Coins actuality be on the table for discussion," Infantino said, searching avant-garde to a affair of the FIFA Lath he will armchair on Oct. 13-14 in Zurich.Asked about a abeyant U.
S.-Canada-Mexico action for 2026, the aloft UEFA accustomed secretary acclaimed that his antecedent alignment chose to authority the 2020 European Championship in 13 altered host nations."So, there is, I would say, no absolute to whatever is acceptable for football," Infantino said on the sidelines of a affair of European clubs. "We will see, but it's accurate that CONCACAF did not admission the Apple Cup for a affiliated time."
FIFA rules currently bar back-to-back hosting by continents, cardinal out Asian bidders for 2026 afterwards Qatar hosts in 2022, and has avant-garde advised astute confederations to sit out two behest contests.Infantino beneath to advanced if UEFA could animate its associates to skip the 2026 action with Russia hosting the 2018 Apple Cup.The 2026 Apple Cup hosting vote is set for 2020, with FIFA affiliate federations allotment from a shortlist drafted by the cardinal council."For the moment I advanced aggregate is open.
My assessment on the 40 teams has not changed," Infantino said afterwards affair the European Club Association, abounding of whose associates argue absolution added of their players to an broadcast Apple Cup.While at UEFA, Infantino aswell helped baby-sit an
Cheap Madden Coins broadcast Euro 2016 with 24 teams for the aboriginal time instead of the 16-team format"We admission apparent it afresh at the Euro in France with eight added teams, what affectionate of action this generated in many, abounding countries," he said. "
