Cafu Highlights Former Players' Influence in FIFA Decision-Making
Cafu says former players now “have a place at the table” in FIFA’s decision-making, hailing a decade of change that he believes has finally given those who played the game real influence over how it is run.
In a message on social media, the Brazilian legend highlighted what he sees as a structural shift inside football’s global governing body, with players and ex-players no longer limited to symbolic roles on the sidelines.
“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.”
For Cafu, the key change is that experience from the pitch now feeds directly into policy. These are not just ceremonial ambassadors wheeled out for photo opportunities. They sit on formal bodies, debate regulations, shape development plans, and help decide how the game grows.
He stressed that this involvement feels real, not cosmetic.
“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 ownership ties into a broader mission. Cafu underlined how those involved see football as a tool that can change lives far beyond the stadium gates.
“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.”
Cafu also made clear this is not a short-term experiment. The working groups and committees that now include former players are expected to keep their hands on the wheel as new regulations and development projects are drawn up.
The ambition is bold: to ensure football’s growth genuinely touches every corner of the planet. For Cafu and his peers, that means staying embedded in the process so that, wherever the game is played, its benefits are shaped by those who once lived it on the pitch.
