There have been claims for a while that the connection between U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino is negatively impacting international football.
These assertions are gaining credibility as Trump’s sway over key FIFA decisions becomes apparent, with Infantino facilitating Trump’s preferences in various FIFA initiatives.
The unexpected alliance between the head of FIFA, the organization responsible for overseeing football events, and the U.S. president has drawn criticism.
However, this relationship is bringing soccer—traditionally a minority sport in the U.S.—closer to the MAGA movement, which has typically been associated with the NFL, NBA, and baseball.
Two key events illustrate how this friendship developed and highlight the strong bond between the two leaders.
The first occurred in August 2018, when Infantino visited the White House for the first time during Trump’s presidency.
Some of the occupations are: FIFA had just awarded the joint bid from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to host the 2026 World Cup where Infantino presented Trump with a soccer ball and a personalized jersey.
Another notable instance of Trump’s overreach into global football which generates wide global reactions is the recent peace prize award he received from the FIFA president.
Following this award, numerous organizations, groups, and individuals criticized Infantino’s decision to honor Trump, questioning the purpose behind the prize’s establishment.
These issues have cast doubt on the credibility of the 2026 World Cup, as the US appears to be allegedly attempting to manipulate or dominate the world’s most prestigious football tournament for its own hidden benefit.
Furthermore, Infantino presented Trump with FIFA’s first peace prize during the World Cup draw on December 6 for the tournament scheduled to take place in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico in June and July.
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Reacting to the award and other matters concerning Trump’s relationship with Gianni, FairSquare, a prominent sports organization, labeled FIFA’s governance structure as “absurd” and asserted that the organization’s dealings with Trump contradict the common interests of the global football community, as stated in a complaint filed on Monday.
FairSquare’s program director Nicholas McGeehan indicated that the complaint extends beyond Infantino’s endorsement of Trump’s political agenda.
He emphasized that it concerns how FIFA’s flawed governance has enabled Infantino to disregard the organization’s rules and act in ways that are both harmful and contrary to the interests of the world’s most popular sport.
The complaint pointed out that awarding the peace prize to a “sitting political figure is, in itself, a clear violation” of Article 15 of FIFA’s own code of ethics.
Another instance of Trump’s interference in football is his recent suggestion to change the name of U.S. football.
During the World Cup draw on Friday, Trump stated that soccer should be recognized as the true “football” in the United States and that the NFL should adopt a different name for its sport—a proposal that Infantino has not opposed.
