Gianni Infantino says that he suffered bullying at school. Classmates laughed at her freckles and the reddish color of her hair. His rivals accuse Donald Trump of being a bully and of doing bullying to the weakest. Never before have two such antagonistic personalities been so close. Infantino (Brig-Gils, 55 years old) was born into a humble family: he is the son of a Calabrian railwayman and a Lombard housekeeper. Trump (New York, 79 years old) grew up surrounded by all the comforts. His father was a prosperous construction businessman in the vibrant New York of the sixties. The unexpected friendship between the president of FIFA and the president of the United States has sparked some criticism. But the love affair between the two leaders is bringing football, a minority sport in the United States, closer to the MAGA world, a preserve until now reserved for the NFL, the NBA and baseball.
There is an initial moment and a spark that explains how that friendship started and helps to understand the close relationships between both characters. The first occurred in August 2018, the first time Infantino visited The White House with Trump as president. FIFA had just awarded the joint candidacy of the United States, Canada and Mexico the organization of the 2026 World Cup. Infantino gave the Republican a soccer ball and a personalized shirt. As the visit was coming to an end, the Swiss said: “There is one more thing. In football we have referees. And they have cards. The yellow card is for warning and the red card is for sending off.” Trump’s face changed. Excitedly, he took the red card and in a funny tone pretended to admonish the press. The visit was a success. A friendship had emerged.
The second key moment took place in Switzerland. It was early 2020, the pandemic that devastated the world that year had not yet shown its face. Trump attended the Davos summit, where hundreds of pompous businessmen travel each year to boast about their contacts and how close they are to big issues. The American president attended the meeting with his head down. He had just faced the first impeachment of his career for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress following his call with Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky, whom he allegedly asked to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter. Trump’s international reputation was on the decline. Infantino, before a select group of businessmen, introduced Trump: “He says what many think, but the most important thing is that he does what he says. And this makes the American dream come true. The American dream is something that not only Americans need to have, but all over the world.” His words moved a troubled Trump, who thanked him: “You have been my great friend and it is an honor.”
Since then they call each other frequently, they play golf and Trump takes Infantino on some of his international trips as if he were another member of the presidential entourage. The tenant of the White House calls him “friend Johnny” as a sign of complicity. They both compliment each other publicly. The accommodating and entertaining character of the Swiss has conquered the American, who likes to be given the pill.
Infantino’s praise of Trump has, however, cost him some displeasure. He has been accused of violating the world football governing body’s statutes on political neutrality. Three weeks ago, when I participated in the American Business Forum, a business forum held in Miami in which athletes such as Leonel Messi, Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal were also present; Infantino proclaimed: “I’m very lucky. I have an excellent relationship with President Trump, I consider him a very close friend.” But he didn’t stop there: “I think we should all support what he is doing, because I think it looks very good.” The former president of the FIFA governance committee between 2016 and 2017, Miguel Poiares Maduro, accused Infantino of “clearly” violating the rules on neutrality, according to what he said. TheAthletic. Although FIFA has not opened an investigation, it is not the first time that Infantino has supported Trump’s policies.
Without going any further, that same day the body that governs the destinies of world football announced the creation of a “FIFA Peace” award that will be presented next Friday during the draw for the 2026 World Cup. The event will take place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, a huge arts and convention complex, which Trump coincidentally presides over. The New York magnate had insistently expressed his desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize this year, although it finally fell to the Venezuelan opponent Maria Corina Machado. Although FIFA has not revealed who will win the new award, everyone knows the name of the chosen one.
“It is true that it is not a relationship to the liking of the establishment“But Gianni is a practical man,” says a FIFA source close to the decision-making bodies. “There is a World Cup in which 48 teams participate for the first time in history. We have to fill the stadiums with eight million people. This has to work,” they add. “He was already criticized at the 2018 World Cup in Russia for his relationship with Putin, and in 2022 for Qatar. And in 2030 when it is celebrated in Spain and Morocco it will be the same.”
Although next year’s World Cup is organized jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, Infantino has not shown the same complicity with Mark Carney, Canadian Prime Minister, or with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
The Swiss is a diplomatic man, he has never had qualms about aligning himself with his hosts. He already demonstrated this four years ago during the World Cup in Qatar, when after asking journalists about the violation of human rights he said: “I have strong feelings. Today I feel Qatari, today I feel Arab, today I feel African, today I feel gay, today I feel disabled, today I feel like a migrant worker” and launched a fierce defense of the Middle Eastern country in the presence of the emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Infantino, by the way, lives with his family in Doha, the capital of the Qatari kingdom, where he is a star. He also has a close friendship with the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman. In reality, he has excellent ties with the leaders of the Middle Eastern countries, something that has undoubtedly worked in his favor to get closer to the president of the United States. But the friendship with Trump has reached a level of trust that is on another level.
In fact, on January 19 during the rally to celebrate his electoral victory, Trump cited him up to five times. “Thank you, Gianni,” the president repeated euphorically. The next day, during his inauguration for his second term in the White House, Infantino’s shining head stood out above the rest in the first rows of the ceremony in which the politician was sworn in. There is more. Six months ago Trump asked him to accompany him on his first major international trip during his second term. Infantino did diplomatic work for the Republican thanks to his contacts in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. His presence on that trip caused him to arrive two hours late to the annual FIFA Assembly held in Asunción (Paraguay), which earned him a reprimand from the governing body of the institution he presides over.
“It is true that there is a special and different relationship with Trump. It has to do with the fact that during the previous four years, Biden did not have a second to receive Infantino when the United States is going to organize the largest sporting event in the world.” As soon as Trump returned to the White House, he formed a working group that included several of his secretaries (equivalent to ministers in Spain) and the attorney general, Pam Bondi. “He comes, asks and asks his team to get involved,” FIFA sources add.
The links between both leaders are also evident in other activities. FIFA appointed Ivanka Trump to the board of directors of a $100 million educational project, funded in part by World Cup ticket sales. The world soccer organization has also rented an office in New York’s Trump Tower and is building a huge headquarters in Miami, the American president’s favorite place to rest.
One week before the draw for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in 16 American cities, some questions persist, especially about the reception of fans from other countries and even the possibility of venues being changed at the last minute. The Republican millionaire likes to take advantage of all the advantages and does not hesitate to politicize all his movements. A week ago he met in the Oval Office with his senior staff and Infantino. There Trump alluded to the supposed security “problem” in cities governed by Democrats, such as Boston, Los Angeles and Seattle. In the midst of an immigration offensive, Trump wants to deploy National Guard troops to help ICE (the customs control service) raid immigrants to expel them. The Queens-born president asked his friend if some of those cities do not adopt immigration and urban militarization policies: “Gianni, can I say that we will move? I don’t think there will be this problem. But we are going to move the event to a place where it will be appreciated and safe.” A visibly embarrassed Infantino avoided confirming that possibility, but he did not lock the door either: “Yes, I think security is the number one priority for a successful World Cup.” In exchange for this uncomfortable situation, the FIFA executive managed to get the US to give priority to fans with tickets to obtain a visa.
Last August, after the success of the Club World Cup, Infantino brought his friend a replica of the World Cup to show him the trophy that the team that wins the championship will win. The “MAGA-FIFA World Cup,” Trump joked to one of his advisors. The 18-carat gold-clad award remains in The Oval Office, along with the original trophy from the Club World Cup held this past summer in the country. It is a large 24-karat gold piece of jewelry designed by Tiffany & Co. that Trump has kept on the Resolute desk, which presides over the Oval Office, until recently. Infantino only took the trophies to the White House to display them, but the taste of the golden objects and the symbolism they represent made Trump ask to keep them, something that has raised blisters within the institution.
In reality, two complementary characters come together. A person who needs to be the center of attention and another who likes to satisfy the wishes of his friends. After the final of the first Club World Cup, which was held this summer in the United States, while helping to present the medals to the Chelsea players who won the championship, Trump saved himself a medal. At the trophy presentation, something usually reserved for athletes, he remained with the footballers who were jumping euphorically around him after the victory in the final against PSG.
Soccer is advancing little by little in the United States. It is a sport with little football tradition, despite the fact that it already organized the 1994 World Cup. The relationship between Trump and Infantino is helping to spread the fans in Midwestern states where sports such as the NBA, American football or baseball are rooted. Soccer began to be played in schools by young boys. Latin immigration also contributes to making it more popular. “It is true that the relationship between Infantino and Trump helps. The image of the president of the United States sitting in the box at the final of the first edition of the Club World Cup this summer is very powerful. But let’s be honest, Leo Messi is doing more for football in the United States,” say sources from the football organization.
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