FIFA have responded to boycott threats ahead of the World Cup final by claiming that they expect record viewing figures across the globe. Well over a billion people are projected to tune into France’s heavyweight clash with Argentina on Sunday afternoon, despite controversies surrounding the host nation.
Qatar has faced heavy criticism since they were awarded the 2022 World Cup over a decade ago. Their human rights record, LGBTQ+ laws and migrant worker rights have all been questioned since the tournament got underway last month.
Some had called for fans and TV viewers to boycott the World Cup in general and particularly the final, so as to send a message to FIFA. However, the sport’s global governing body, led by president Gianni Infantino, claims that they are expecting 1.5billion viewers to tune in.
That far surpasses the 1.12bn that watched France beat Croatia in Russia four years ago. Infantino and co also claim that record viewing figures have been recorded at every stage of the tournament, while the number of in-stadium spectators is also set to surpass the 3.3million recorded in 2018.
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Messi, considered by many to be the greatest player of all time, is gunning to win the World Cup for the first time in his career, in what is set to be his final attempt. Mbappe, meanwhile, has established himself as a phenomenon at football’s most prestigious international tournament, racking up nine goals by the age of 23.
To add another layer of spice, both Messi and Mbappe are tied in the race for this year’s Golden Boot with five goals apiece. France star Olivier Giroud and Argentina forward Julian Alvarez are also in with a shot, having notched four goals each so far.
Ahead of Sunday’s showpiece, former England star Gary Lineker talked up the importance of Argentina’s rowdy support. “It has been important: Argentina, Brazil, Morocco, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia – they have brought some kind of, what you would say, real football feeling within the stadium,” he told the BBC.
“I have seen a lot of games where it is like watching the opera or something, which is fine. It has been a very different World Cup in that sense but the Argentina fans have been incredible. It is a long way. I just think they felt something special was going to happen. They have given something that the tournament would have really lacked if they hadn’t come.”
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