As President Trump embarks on a state visit in the Gulf, FIFA president Gianni Infantino joins him, expected to oversee the ceremony transferring World Cup hosting duties to the U.S., showcasing their unique partnership amidst mixed reactions from FIFA members.
Trump and Infantino: A FIFA Ties during Gulf Tour
Trump and Infantino: A FIFA Ties during Gulf Tour
President Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia is marked by the strong alliance with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who is set to hand over World Cup hosting duties.
As President Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia for a significant state visit, excitement grew as he was welcomed by Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA. Infantino's unwavering support for Trump since the latter's first term has drawn considerable attention within global soccer circles. Their relationship appears to transcend the formalities expected between a World Cup-hosting leader and a sports governing body chief, particularly as the U.S. prepares to jointly host the 2026 World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada.
On Wednesday, Infantino will accompany Trump to Qatar, the nation that hosted the 2022 World Cup. During the visit, Infantino is anticipated to preside over a notable ceremony in which the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, will formally transfer World Cup hosting responsibilities to President Trump. Notably, representatives from Canada and Mexico will be absent from the event, which comes on the heels of tensions between Trump and the neighboring nations over trade tariffs. Recently, Trump humorously remarked about Infantino's comments minimizing their involvement in the World Cup preparations.
The decision for Infantino to journey with Trump has caught FIFA officials by surprise, especially with the organization holding its annual congress thousands of miles away in Paraguay. In a bid to facilitate Infantino's attendance at events in the Gulf, a scheduled FIFA board meeting was quickly transitioned to a video conference format. The FIFA organization acknowledged Infantino's participation in discussions involving World Cups as a key aspect of this visit. Following the Gulf tour, Infantino is set to return to Paraguay to lead the congress, with a slight rescheduling to accommodate the new itinerary.
