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Thierry Henry urges players to use their power amid FIFA

2026-09-04 · Thierry Henry · Opinion

Thierry Henry urges players to use their power amid FIFA

Thierry Henry has called on players to use their collective voice to shape football's future, speaking out as FIFA faces intense scrutiny over its governance. The former Arsenal and Barcelona star made his comments in an interview with the Guardian on Tuesday, September 3, 2026, ahead of the new Champions League season.

Can players really change football's power structure?

Henry was speaking alongside pundits Kate Scott and Jamie Carragher as CBS and Most important prepared for their Champions League coverage. He argued that modern players possess significant, often unrealized, influence. "For me, the players have more power than they think they have," Henry said. "And if they want it to change, they can make it happen, especially nowadays."

His remarks come during a period of sustained pressure on FIFA. The governing body is dealing with multiple scandals linked to the 2026 World Cup. Reports about president Gianni Infantino's efforts to sell the tournament's commercial rights have sparked further controversy. UEFA is reportedly exploring legal options against Infantino in response.

Kate Scott, who anchors the CBS panel, compared the current climate to the 2021 European Super League debacle. She noted a widespread desire for change in FIFA's leadership, similar to the fan and player backlash that ultimately sank the Super League project. "It just kind of leaves a bad taste," Scott said of the ongoing situation.

Which Arsenal 'Invincibles' were overshadowed by Henry?

In a separate reflection on Henry's legendary career, former Arsenal youth player Isaiah Halls named two teammates from the unbeaten 2003/04 squad who he believes were overshadowed. Halls, speaking to GOAL, argued that French midfielder Robert Pires and Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu would have been "super superstars" at any other club.

Halls, who made his debut in 2001, trained daily with a squad containing World Cup winners and global icons. The immense spotlight on stars like Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp meant other elite talents operated slightly out of the limelight. He pointed to Pires, a 1998 World Cup winner with France, and the "mercurial" Kanu as prime examples of players whose extraordinary skill deserved even greater individual acclaim.

Pires won two Premier League titles and two FA Cups with Arsenal, forming a devastating partnership with Henry on the left flank. Kanu, known for his "unbelievable feet" and improvisation, was a cult hero whose technical brilliance sometimes went underappreciated in a team packed with legends.

  • Thierry Henry advocates for player agency in football's political battles, speaking on September 3.
  • FIFA faces fresh scandals over 2026 World Cup commercial rights, with UEFA considering legal action against president Gianni Infantino.
  • Former Arsenal youth player Isaiah Halls identifies Robert Pires and Nwankwo Kanu as 'Invincibles' who were overshadowed by Henry and Bergkamp.
  • The current climate is compared to the fan and player power that defeated the 2021 European Super League proposal.

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