FIFA president Gianni Infantino faces scrutiny as the men's World Cup approaches, amid concerns over potential political interference. The success of the tournament without off-field issues could validate his controversial approach.
Key points
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is under scrutiny.
Concerns about political interference from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Success of the World Cup could validate Infantino's leadership.
Avoiding off-field drama is crucial for FIFA's reputation.
Mentioned in this story
Gianni InfantinoDonald TrumpIran
FIFA president Gianni Infantino's fawning must pay off with spotless World Cup | Opinion
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is about to find out if all his sucking up was worth it.
The men’s World Cup begins in a month, and it’s safe to say there’s more than just a little concern that U.S. President Donald Trump and his underlings will find some way to co-opt it. But if Iran and a truly global fan base of visitors make it through the World Cup without any more off-field drama, then maybe Infantino humiliating himself, and FIFA by extension, will have been worth it.
Maybe.
Gianni Infantino goes overboard in cozying up to president
Having a good relationship with the president of the United States makes sense when that country is co-hosting one of your premier events this summer. Same for being on good terms with Canada’s prime minister and Mexico’s president, the leaders of the other co-hosts.
Infantino has taken his schmoozing to cringe levels, however. He’s been Trump’s shadow since he was re-elected U.S. president, showing up at events that have nothing to do with FIFA and fawning over Trump more than some of the president's own cabinet members. He even created The FIFA Peace Prize to stroke Trump’s ego because he’s never going to earn the one that actually matters.
It’s made Infantino look pathetic, as if being in Trump’s orbit is more important than promoting FIFA’s interests. Even some FIFA members, not exactly paragons of ethical behavior, have been .
Q&A
What challenges does FIFA president Gianni Infantino face ahead of the World Cup?
Infantino is concerned about potential political co-opting of the World Cup by U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration.
How might the World Cup's success impact Gianni Infantino's reputation?
If the tournament proceeds without off-field drama, it could validate Infantino's controversial actions and leadership.
What are the implications of off-field drama during the World Cup?
Off-field issues could overshadow the tournament and damage FIFA's reputation, affecting global fan engagement.
Why is the World Cup significant for FIFA and Gianni Infantino?
The World Cup is a major global event that can enhance FIFA's image and Infantino's leadership if it runs smoothly.
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Trump’s travel bans also mean fans of several countries won’t be allowed to come to the World Cup, while other fans are already expressing concern they’ll be harassed – or worse – by ICE officers.
The World Cup begins June 11 and runs through July 19, and the bulk of the 104 games will be played in 11 cities across the United States. That includes both semifinals (Dallas and Atlanta) and the final (New York/New Jersey).
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"When it comes to FIFA competitions, any team, including the supporters and officials of that team, who qualify for a World Cup need to have access to the country, otherwise there is no World Cup. That is obvious."
Who said that? Oh right. It was Infantino, back in 2017, after Trump issued his first travel ban.
This World Cup, even more than the 2022 tournament in Qatar, is a referendum on Infantino and his leadership. It's the first men's tournament awarded after he was elected president in 2016 — Russia and Qatar were both chosen under the Sepp Blatter regime — and it was Infantino who pushed for it to be expanded to 48 teams.
There's already been criticism about the exorbitant ticket prices. Once the tournament begins, Infantino needs the tournament to go smoothly, without any problems beyond those to be expected when hosting a global party.
Which means Infantino needs the cooperation of his bestie.
Infantino, like most world leaders, has figured out that flattery is the way to get what you want from Trump. It's why he created that Peace Prize and let Trump keep the Club World Cup trophy.
That probably won't be enough to calm tensions during the World Cup, though, so Infantino will need to play to Trump's ego. Tell Trump any hostilities toward the Iranian team will dominate the headlines and deflect attention from the tournament he helped secure. Remind Trump that federal officers harassing, arresting or harming fans will tarnish the United States' reputation as a gracious World Cup host forever and cast a shadow over the upcoming Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
Ugly 2026 World Cup would haunt FIFA forever
Trump is going to find some way to put himself in the spotlight during the World Cup, just as he has at the Super Bowl, the U.S. Open, last year's Club World Cup and more. He’s probably going to be this tournament’s Salt Bae, turning up in places he doesn’t belong, overstaying his welcome and trying to claim trophies he didn’t earn.
All that is to be expected. It might be an awkward intersection of sports and politics, but it is, in the grand scheme of things, harmless.
Despite Infantino’s best efforts to cheapen the game, the World Cup remains one of the few things the entire planet loves. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Lionel Messi fan, you ride with the Les Bleus or you just like chaos, for five-plus weeks the world is going to be mesmerized by the World Cup.
That’s what’s at stake. Infantino and FIFA should want the memories of this tournament to be about the teams and the players. The spectacular goals and incredible saves. The beautiful game, not the ugliness of humanity.
One month out, Infantino looks like a fool for his slavish devotion to Trump. He'll wear that legacy forever if this World Cup is spoiled by scandals from the sidelines.
But if Infantino can leverage his cloying into a clean sheet of World Cup headlines? That would be beautifully played.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.