Cafu Celebrates Players' New Power in FIFA Decision-Making
Cafu has welcomed what he sees as a fundamental shift in how football is run, praising the way players and former players have been pulled into the heart of FIFA’s decision-making.
In a message on social media, the Brazilian legend focused on the structural reforms that have moved players from the sidelines of governance into the rooms where the sport’s biggest calls are made. For him, it is not cosmetic. It is overdue.
“Over the past 10 years, we have followed the work that FIFA and President Infantino have carried out to promote representation in football – something that had not happened before,” Cafu said. “Players and former players have been given a voice and a place at the table by taking part in committees, projects, and working groups.”
This is not the old model of rolling out ex-stars as ceremonial ambassadors. Cafu stressed that the group of former players now involved with FIFA use their on-pitch experience to shape live sporting policies, from development projects to the broader direction of the game. They feel, he said, that football’s central authority genuinely listens.
“Our opinions are heard, and many of the initiatives carried out in the name of the sport have been shaped by our reflections, ideas, plans, and participation,” he explained.
That sense of influence carries a responsibility. Cafu underlined why these voices matter, tying the boardroom work back to football’s wider impact beyond the stadium.
“We know how football can transform lives, improve societies and expand opportunities to people all over the world; and we are committed to continue bringing that hope to them,” he said. “We remain on hand to support the great progress that our sport has experienced in the past decade, ensuring that it continues to reach and benefit people in all the countries where football is played around the world.”
The message was not nostalgic. It was pointed firmly at what comes next.
Cafu made it clear that the partnership between FIFA and its group of former players is designed to last. The existing committees and working groups are expected to keep playing active roles as new regulations are drafted and fresh development projects are rolled out.
The ambition is bold but simple: as football keeps growing, its benefits must spread into every corner of the globe. For Cafu and his peers, that means staying at the table, shaping decisions, and making sure the sport’s expansion truly reaches every country where the game is played.
