Zelensky reportedly snubbed by FIFA after offering to share peace message at World Cup final


FIFA has allegedly rebuffed an offer from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to share a message of world peace prior to the World Cup final on Sunday, CNN reports, per a source.
Zelensky was requesting to appear at the match via video link, though it is unclear if his message would be live or taped. Either way, the source said, the Ukrainian leader was surprised by the governing body's response.
"We thought FIFA wanted to use its platform for the greater good," the source told CNN.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
That said, talks between the two parties are still ongoing, the source added.
Zelensky has shared video addresses at a number of prestigious events this year, including the Grammy Awards and the Cannes Film Festival. But FIFA, CNN notes, "has gone to extreme [lengths] to keep political messaging out of its showcase tournament in Qatar, the first Middle Eastern nation ever to stage the event."
"We are a global organization and we don't discriminate against anyone," FIFA President Gianni Infantino said at a news conference on Friday. The besieged Ukraine has been at war with Russia since February 2022, when Russian troops first invaded their neighbor under orders from Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.
Argentina will face defending World Cup champions France at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday, Dec. 18. English-language broadcasts will air on Fox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
What is Free Speech?: a 'meticulous' look at the evolution of freedom of expression
The Week Recommends Fara Dabhoiwala provides both history and critique while 'correcting misconceptions'
By The Week UK
-
Rupert Gavin shares his favourite books
The Week Recommends The theatre impresario picks works by Dan Jones, Annie Ernaux and Floella Benjamin
By The Week UK
-
What They Found: Sam Mendes's powerful debut documentary
The Week Recommends The Oscar-winning director's harrowing film features footage and first-hand accounts of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
By The Week UK
-
China's football crisis: what's happened to Xi's XI?
In The Spotlight String of defeats and finishing bottom of World Cup qualifying group comes a decade after Xi Jinping launched a football crusade
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK
-
Canada beats US in charged 4 Nations hockey final
Speed Read 'You can't take our country — and you can't take our game,' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted after the game
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Eagles trounce Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX
speed read The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Indian teen is youngest world chess champion
Speed Read Gukesh Dommaraju, 18, unseated China's Ding Liren
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Saudi Arabia World Cup: have lessons been learned from Qatar?
Today's Big Question Human rights groups fear a repeat of issues at the 2022 tournament
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK
-
Europe roiled by attacks on Israeli soccer fans
Speed Read Israeli fans supporting the Maccabi Tel Aviv team clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters in 'antisemitic attacks,' Dutch authorities said
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
New York wins WNBA title, nearly nabs World Series
Speed Read The Yankees with face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the upcoming Fall Classic
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Ukraine's Olympians: going for gold in the line of fire
Under the Radar Hundreds of the country's athletes have died in battle, while those who remain deal with the psychological toll of war and prospect of Russian competitors
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK