Cafu Supports Players' Role in FIFA's New Power Structure

Cafu has thrown his weight behind the reshaped power dynamic at the top of world football, praising FIFA for bringing players into the heart of decision-making rather than leaving them on the sidelines as symbolic figures.

In a message shared on social media, the former Brazil captain underlined how the last decade has, in his view, changed the way the game is run.

“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.”

That, for Cafu, is the key shift. Not glossy ambassador roles. Real influence.

He stressed that the presence of ex-professionals now stretches deep into the sport’s structures, with their experience on the pitch feeding directly into sporting policy and strategic choices. The group of former players involved, he suggested, no longer feels like a decoration added for public relations. They feel listened to.

“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 added.

For Cafu, this is about more than boardrooms and regulations. It is about what football can do away from the stadium lights.

“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 clear: this is not a one-off initiative or a passing phase. Cafu underlined that the partnership between FIFA and its pool of former players is built to last, with established working groups set to keep shaping future regulations and development projects.

The ambition is broad and unapologetically global. As the sport keeps expanding, the aim is to ensure that growth touches every corner of the planet, not just the traditional power bases.

For Cafu and his peers, the challenge now is to turn that promise of inclusion and representation into lasting change for every country where the game is played.