Fifa has confirmed a significant alteration to its press conference language protocols, introducing Spanish as a fourth translation option for media interactions. The decision comes swiftly after a series of widely shared social media clips highlighted communication challenges between journalists and high-profile players during the ongoing World Cup tournament.
The previous regulations stipulated that English translation would be provided, alongside the official languages of the two national teams participating in a given match. For instance, in the build-up to the Morocco versus Brazil fixture, Arabic and Portuguese were the designated languages in addition to English. This framework, however, proved insufficient in practice, leading to awkward moments that quickly gained traction online.
One notable incident involved Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi, who was born in Spain and is fluent in Spanish. During a press conference before his team's match against Brazil, a Mexican journalist from TV Azteca, Rodrigo Ornelas, attempted to ask Hakimi a question in Spanish. Despite Hakimi expressing his willingness and ability to respond in Spanish, a Fifa official intervened, citing a lack of translation resources for the language. Hakimi ultimately answered in English at the official's request, but the exchange underscored a clear disconnect.
Another widely reported linguistic dispute involved Brazilian star Vinicius Jr. A Venezuelan journalist requested that the Real Madrid player answer questions in Spanish. Vinicius Jr, however, declined, stating, "I'm with Brazil, I'm gonna speak in Portuguese," aligning with the previous policy which prioritised the national team's language over broader linguistic commonalities.
The swift policy reversal by Fifa to include Spanish as a standard fourth language aims to address these logistical and communication hurdles. The organisation confirmed the change to The Sporting News, indicating a recognition of the diverse linguistic landscape among players and the international media covering the prestigious tournament.