FIFA Chief Infantino Accused of Subordinating Football to Political Interests in Trump Era

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has spent eight years cultivating a relationship with Donald Trump, using football's global platform as a political instrument, according to reporting by the New York Times. The United States, alongside Canada and Mexico, is hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup — a hosting rights decision made in 2018 during Trump's first presidency — and Infantino has consistently sought to align himself with Trump throughout that period. Infantino, who has led world football's governing body since 2016, has drawn criticism for blurring the lines between sport and politics, including reportedly fabricating a so-called "Peace Prize" as part of his tenure. FIFA, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, is the Swiss-based international body that governs global football and organizes the men's World Cup, one of the most-watched sporting events on earth. Critics argue that Infantino's deference to powerful political figures — and in particular to Trump — has undermined FIFA's stated commitment to political neutrality, turning the organization into a vehicle for personal diplomacy and image-building rather than the promotion of sport.