FIFA President Gianni Infantino is set to be granted Lebanese citizenship, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has approved, the head of the Lebanese Football Association (LFA) confirmed on Tuesday.
Hashem Haidar, LFA president, told AFP that President Aoun informed Infantino of the decree and outlined the required steps to complete the citizenship process. “The decree granting citizenship to Infantino recognizes him as a public figure providing services to Lebanon,” Haidar said. A government official also confirmed the development.
Infantino, 55, a Swiss-Italian national, is married to Lebanese national Leena al-Ashqar, a former employee of the LFA. Speaking to Lebanese broadcaster LBCI, Infantino said, “I don’t have it yet, but soon. I feel very good and proud. I am Lebanese since many years already, so it’s good to formalize this as well.”
According to the LFA, President Aoun asked Infantino to complete the necessary legal documents to finalize the citizenship decree. Infantino also discussed plans to build a new state-of-the-art football stadium in Beirut with a 20,000–30,000 spectator capacity.
“A stadium today is not just a place to play; it’s a symbol of a country,” Infantino said. “Lebanon needs a modern stadium to inspire the youth and showcase progress in sport and football.” Haidar added that Infantino pledged to cover all costs for the construction.
The Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium in Beirut, Lebanon’s largest with a capacity of around 50,000, was opened in 1957 and renovated in 1997 but has faced neglect in recent years. The proposed new stadium will be located in Beirut, with land acquisition and construction managed locally.
