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Infantino Hails Jay Shah & India's T20 WC Win in Historic Crossover

FIFA President Gianni Infantino publicly congratulated ICC Chairman Jay Shah for the successful organisation of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Infantino also celebrated the Indian cricket team's victory, which secured a record third T20 World Cup title. The interaction highlights a significant crossover moment between football and cricket's governing bodies, building on a meeting between the two leaders in Milan earlier this year. Infantino expressed a desire for collaboration to unite the world through sports, especially with cricket's return to the Olympics in 2028.

Key Points: FIFA's Infantino Congratulates ICC's Jay Shah on T20 World Cup

  • Infantino praises ICC's T20 WC organisation
  • India wins record third T20 World Cup title
  • Sport crossover highlighted ahead of cricket's Olympic return
  • India first to win T20 WC on home soil
2 min read

FIFA President Gianni Infantino congratulates ICC Chairman Jay Shah on ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 success

FIFA President Gianni Infantino congratulates ICC Chairman Jay Shah on the successful T20 World Cup 2026 and India's historic third title win.

"Congratulations to the ICC and my friend Jay Shah for another wonderfully organised T20 World Cup. - Gianni Infantino"

New Delhi, March 9

FIFA President Gianni Infantino congratulated the International Cricket Council Chairman Jay Shah for the successful organisation of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, which concluded on Sunday with the final showdown between India and New Zealand.

Sharing a photo of himself holding the Indian jersey on his social media handle of Instagram on Sunday, Infantino also congratulated the Indian cricket team on winning a record third Men's T20 World Cup title.

"Congratulations to the ICC and my friend Jay Shah for another wonderfully organised T20 World Cup. Many congratulations to India for another title. Having visited your wonderful country, I know how much this means to you," Infantino wrote.

Earlier, in February, Gianni Infantino met Jay Shah in Milan, marking a massive crossover moment between two of the most popular sports in the world. After meeting Shah, Infantino took to Instagram, sharing a picture of himself with the ICC Chairman, hailing his work in cricket's growth and wishing him luck as the sport makes a grand return to the Olympic programme at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

He had also expressed the desire for collaboration with Shah in their bid to "unite the world through sports".

"It was my pleasure to meet @icc Chairman Jay Shah today in Milan. The outstanding work he has done to grow the beautiful game of cricket is exemplary. I wish him and everyone the very best as cricket gets re-introduced to the Summer Olympic Games in two years time. I also look forward to working together and collaborating as we unite the world through sports," Gianni had said in his Instagram post after meeting Jay Shah in February.

Coming to the T20 World Cup, the tournament concluded with India defeating New Zealand by 96 runs in the final, held at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium, on Sunday. The victory made India the first team to win the T20 World Cup on home soil, the first to win consecutive titles after their 2024 win, and the first to lift the trophy three times (2007, 2024, and 2026).

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
This is fantastic recognition. Organising a World Cup of this scale flawlessly is no small feat. Kudos to the entire team. However, I hope this collaboration talk leads to more investment in grassroots sports facilities across India, not just cricket.
R
Rohit P
"Unite the world through sports" - love that sentiment! Cricket's return to Olympics is the big news here. Imagine an India-Pakistan final at LA 2028. That would be something for the ages. Great to see our sports leaders building these global bridges.
S
Sarah B
As someone who follows both football and cricket, this crossover is fascinating. Infantino holding the Indian jersey is a powerful image. India is becoming a sports hosting powerhouse. The atmosphere in Ahmedabad must have been incredible.
V
Vikram M
Three T20 World Cups! Chak De India! 🏆 The team was phenomenal. But let's be real, the real victory is back-to-back wins and doing it at home. The pressure was immense. This congratulation from FIFA's top boss just adds to the glory. Well done, Men in Blue!
K
Karthik V
While the praise is deserved, I hope this global sports diplomacy also translates into more support for other sports in India. We have great potential in hockey, badminton, and athletics. The focus and funding shouldn't be a one-sport story.

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