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Ex-Cagliari and Tottenham defender Vega running for FIFA President
Former Cagliari and Tottenham Hotspur defender Ramon Vega announced he intends to run as a candidate for FIFA President against Gianni Infantino.The 55-year-old played his international football for S...
Gianni Infantino makes new funding pledge to Fifa members
Infantino is trying to win favour after his botched World Cup sell-off scheme led to resignation calls
Premier League demand FIFA reform in joint statement against Infantino
The Premier League is set to join the Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A in calling for urgent reforms to FIFA’s governance as pressure on president Gianni Infantino continues to grow, Sky Sports repor...
🚨 Europe’s four major leagues call for FIFA reform
Another blow to Gianni Infantino.A major statement was jointly released by Europe’s four biggest leagues this Friday morning!The Premier League, Serie A, La Liga and the Bundesliga have indeed taken...
Gianni Infantino: FIFA president confirms he will stand for re-election in March
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been under pressure to resign after trying to sell stakes in FIFA tournaments to private investors; however, he has confirmed he will stand for re-election in March 2027 as planned; opponents have until November 18 to declare their intention to stand
FAW chief calls for Infantino to step down
Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney says Fifa president Gianni Infantino should step down.
🚨 First European federation: Wales drops backing for Infantino 🏴
The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has officially confirmed the withdrawal of its support for Gianni Infantino’s bid for re-election as president of FIFA. The move, formally communicated to Sky...
Uefa threatens Fifa with legal action over investment plan
Uefa threatens legal action over Gianni Infantino's scrapped plans to sell off stakes in Fifa competitions to private investors.
Uefa has 'lost confidence' in Fifa leadership
Uefa says it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino's Fifa leadership as the fallout from the scrapped controversial investment plan intensifies.
FIFA wanted to sell part of its World Cup business to Trump-linked investors. Then global soccer revolted.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said his proposal "will not proceed" after UEFA — the European football association that includes powerhouses such as Spain, France, England and Germany — unanimously t...
FIFA wants World Cup expansion assessment amid pressure on Infantino
FIFA is seeking an independent agency to assess the expansion of the men’s World Cup to 64 teams, according to documents seen by the Press Association. FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, is under increasing pressure amid mounting opposition to plans to seek private investment in a company which would run the World Cup, with three confederations having rejected it and his senior adviser having quit over it.
FIFA insists 'nobody is selling football' after UEFA threatens to boycott tournaments if plans to sell off stake in World Cup go ahead
FIFA: Nobody is selling football. This is not something FIFA would ever entertain; UEFA reacted furiously to FIFA plan to seek private investment in competitions including World Cup; FIFA president Gianni Infantino has publicly backed the plan
UEFA will boycott FIFA tournaments if Gianni Infantino continues with plans to sell off stake in World Cup
UEFA reacted furiously to FIFA plan to seek private investment in competitions including World Cup; FIFA insists it would retain sole control over governance and sporting decisions; PM Andy Burnham says: Football belongs to the fans
Money has strangled sports. Now Fifa is putting soccer up for sale
Gianni Infantino’s plan for a Fifa subsidiary is odious – but it’s hard to feel surprised
In a sport obsessed by money, is Gianni Infantino’s indecent proposal really such a surprise?
Against the backdrop of the most lucrative World Cup ever, Infantino and FIFA think they may as well crack on - strike while the iron's hot
Being Trump’s favorite international bureaucrat has a price
FIFA President Gianni Infantino cultivated one of the closest relationships to the White House of any world leader. A Democratic flip of the U.S. House could make him pay for it.
Being Trump’s favorite international bureaucrat has a price
FIFA President Gianni Infantino cultivated one of the closest relationships to the White House of any world leader. A Democratic flip of the U.S. House could make him pay for it.
Celebrities from across sports, entertainment and more spotted at World Cup final
Making his first appearance at this year’s World Cup, President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were joined in their suite by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and wife Diana and more.
Infantino's 2026 World Cup Travels, By The Numbers
FIFA President Gianni Infantino got some serious air time over the course of the 2026 World Cup.
Sports without politics is a fantasy and the World Cup proves it
From ancient Greece to Nazi Germany, sport and politics have long been intertwined. Nevertheless, we still imagine that international sport can be kept above the fray and serve as a neutral arena where nations compete on merit alone. In this article, diplomacy scholar Geoffrey Allen Pigman argues the 2026 FIFA World Cup shows this is a dangerous illusion. When international sport is left entirely to revenue-maximizing private bodies like FIFA, it doesn't escape politics, but rather surrenders to its worst expressions. With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics fast approaching, the IOC must decide whether to learn that lesson or repeat the same mistakes. The largest and most lucrative FIFA World Cup ever draws toward its climactic conclusion amidst a swirl of controversy. Team members, staff, fans, and spectators have been denied their right to enter the United States to participate, and US President Donald Trump intervened with FIFA boss Gianni Infantino to overturn a referee’s call that Trump believed disadvantaged the US national team. It is a moment to step back and reflect on what the purposes of international sport mega-events like the World Cup, and international sport more broadly, are, and what they should be. Does international sport serve public purposes? Is there a public interest? Or is it primarily a private endeavor organized by commercial enterprises to entertain the global public (and generate profit in the process), which is occasionally used by governments and leaders for raisons d’etat? Central to the idea of sport is the principle of fair play, which in the international context demands that games be free from political interference. However, it is impossible to separate sport from politics, all claims to the contrary notwithstanding. The most positive political use of international sport through the millennia has been to facilitate diplomacy. The use of international sport for diplomatic objectives has existed since at least the time of the ancient Olympic Games, around which was instituted the custom of the Ekecheiria, or Olympic Truce, between participating states to facilitate fair competition and diplomatic achievements by ensuring that participants could travel safely to the Olympiad. In his seminal work On Diplomacy (1987), diplomacy scholar James Der Derian characterized the objectives of diplomacy as overcoming alienation and mediating estrangement between governments and between peoples. One increasingly important diplomatic tool in the technology-infused media environment over the past century has been public diplomacy, under which governments and non-state diplomatic actors (e.g. transnational corporations) communicate to global publics about their international policy objectives and to shape their global brand image. Political scientist Michał Kobierecki, in his important book Sports Diplomacy (2020), views sports diplomacy as falling broadly within the ambit of public diplomacy, as international sport intimately involves the participation of global publics as spectators and consumers of global media. Diplomacy scholar Stuart Murray and this author, in a 2013 article, distinguish between international sport used for diplomatic purposes and international sport-as-diplomacy, which encompasses the range of diplomacy that occurs as teams and competitors, spectators and fans, and government officials all converge for international sporting events like the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup. Diplomacy scholar H.E. Chehabi, in a 2001 article on US-Iran sports diplomacy, describes the interaction between spectators and fans at international sporting events as “people-to-people diplomacy,” in which relationships develop independently of governments and their objectives. Diplomacy by the aforementioned definitions is often unsuccessful. Moreover, all too often the tools of diplomacy may be employed by governments and other actors to thwart or oppose the objectives of diplomacy as characterized by Der Derian. Governments routinely use the tools of public diplomacy to disseminate propaganda, spreading misinformation in the attempt to deceive global publics about their objectives and to create misleading impressions about their brand identity. Within sports diplomacy, the term “sportswashing” has been coined recently to describe how governments invest in and promote international sport to create positive global public impressions of their nations and, in doing so, to distract the global public from their deficient records in areas such as human rights and democratic governance. Murray, in his 2018 book Sports Diplomacy: Origins, Theory and Practice, introduces the concept of sports anti-diplomacy, wherein governments intentionally use international sport to advance aggressive and nationalistic objectives. Obvious historical examples include Hitler’s use of the 1936 Berlin Olympics to glorify his Third Reich and the 1969 El Salvador-Honduras football “war.” SUGGESTED READING The beautiful game made ugly By Emily Ryall FIFA argues that it is and seeks to be apolitical in its stewardship of international Association Football (soccer). FIFA policies governing bids to host the World Cup require uninhibited and non-discriminatory access for players, team staff, and spectators of all participating countries to host nations and venues. It became clear soon after Trump returned to power in the United States in January 2025 that Trump’s political intentions and objectives to limit non-US citizens from living and working in the United States and, in numerous cases, even visiting the country, would collide with FIFA’s host nation policies. Beginning soon after the start of the second Trump administration, US federal authorities imposed restrictions on entry to the United States of citizens of between 20 and 40 countries for any purpose, with only limited exceptions. Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began arresting non-US citizens in the United States, including persons with and without legal status, holding them in jails, concentration camps, and other detention facilities until they were deported to their home or third countries, where they faced substantive risks to their personal safety. FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, in an effort to ensure the most successful and lucrative World Cup in history, engaged diplomatically with President Trump in an attempt to facilitate entry to the US for World Cup participants. Infantino did all in his power to ingratiate himself with Trump, to the extent of creating a FIFA “Peace Prize,” which he awarded to Trump in December 2025 at a ceremony in the then Trump-controlled John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, on the occasion of the World Cup draw. The prize was an ersatz consolation for someone who aspired in vain to win the rather more prestigious and well-known Nobel Peace Prize. And in the run-up to the World Cup, conditions became worse. In February 2026, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a war of aggression against Iran, illegal under international law, under the false pretence that Iran’s government was preparing to attack the United States and Israel. During the US aerial bombardment of Iran, US planes bombed Azadi Stadium, the facility where Iran’s national football team trained. As the 2026 FIFA World Cup began, it was clear that Infantino’s efforts had been for naught: the Trump administration would not adhere to FIFA policies governing access to World Cup host nations. World Cup referee Omar Artan, a citizen of Somalia, was denied a US visa to enter the United States to participate in the World Cup. Trump’s government only granted US visas to Iran’s football team ten days before they were scheduled to arrive for the tournament. Numerous members of the support staff for Iran’s team were denied US visas. Iran’s team, which had been scheduled to train in Arizona, was directed to shift its training site to Tijuana, Mexico, notwithstanding that all three of their group stage matches took place at US venues. The US Department of Homeland Security only permitted the Iranian team to enter the US on the day before each scheduled match and then to return to Mexico immediately after playing. Members of Iraq’s and Switzerland’s football teams were delayed for hours by US officials at the US border, and an Iraqi team photographer was refused entry. Spectators and fans from Haïti and Iran were denied entry to the United States altogether. A large number of fans from a range of countries had their applications for US visas rejected. There were multiple off-ramps through which participants could have avoided the negative consequences of Trump’s decisions for the 2026 World Cup. Once it was clear that the Trump government intended to violate the established expectations for World Cup hosts, FIFA could have shifted the matches scheduled to take place in the United States to Mexico and Canada. The three nations were already designated as co-hosts, and host cities and venues had been selected. Once it was clear that FIFA, governed by FIFA boss Gianni Infantino’s dependent and dysfunctional relationship with Trump, would never consider this option on its own, it fell to the national football federations to act. The national federations, particularly some combination of federations of the leading contenders (France, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Morocco, England, Germany, etc.), could have refused to participate under the US-imposed conditions or, at the least, demanded an ironclad agreement with the Trump government that FIFA policies on access would be respected. ___ International sport is inextricably entangled with diplomacy of different sorts, for good or ill, it cannot be considered to be in the purely private realm and left to revenue-maximizing private actors. ___ Why did neither FIFA nor the national football federations act to protect the interests of players, team staff, referees, fans, and spectators? In essence, the relentless engines of capitalism prevailed over norm observance, ethics, and fair play. The revenue interests of FIFA, sponsors, global media, and host cities won out. FIFA’s managers viewed hosting another World Cup principally in the United States as a veritable pot of gold for FIFA and its collaborators. FIFA has estimated its own revenue over the 2023-26 budget cycle, which includes the 2026 World Cup, at $13 billion, revised up from an initial projection of $11 billion, and 72% higher than the previous revenue cycle. Of that total, FIFA is estimated to have generated $8.9 billion from the Cup itself in revenue from TV rights ($3.92 billion), sponsorships ($2.69 billion), ticket sales ($3.1 billion), licensing rights, and other sources. A joint study by FIFA and the World Trade Organization estimates that the World Cup will contribute over $40 billion to global GDP, including nearly $14 billion in direct visitor spending in the three host countries (but principally in the United States, which hosted the lion’s share of the matches). The FIFA World Cup is now reportedly “the single most lucrative recurring commercial property in global sport.” And yet, notwithstanding the Trump government’s uses of the World Cup for sports anti-diplomacy, and the climate of anxiety that this created for participants and spectators, diplomacy that did not depend upon governments was able to thrive at the World Cup. Examples of successful people-to-people diplomacy were legion, as citizens of towns and cities across the States, as well as in Mexico and Canada, welcomed team members, their families and supporters, to training sites across North America. Fans of different teams joined together in person in stadiums for matches, at watch parties and bars, and at welcome events sponsored by host cities. The joy and camaraderie shared between the citizenry of Boston and Scotland’s “Tartan Army” of fans is but one example of how the “Beautiful Game” brings people together. Friendships forged across continents are likely to endure well beyond the Cup final. Even those achievements cannot be seen as unalloyed, however. As South African football fan Byron Pillay commented to Al Jazeera, “Football is called the Beautiful Game for a reason, for its ability to unite people. But it’s hard to believe in that magic with the politics and war rhetoric off the field of play, especially when one of the tournament hosts is central to that.” Ultimately, the experience of the 2026 FIFA World Cup illustrates that, as international sport is inextricably entangled with diplomacy of different sorts, for good or ill, it cannot be considered to be in the purely private realm and left to revenue-maximizing private actors. As long as there is the possibility of diplomatic progress in mediating estrangement between governments or between peoples, there is a broad and overarching public interest in international sport. Likewise, as it would be difficult to put on an international sport mega-event without international sporting organizations like FIFA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), global media firms, and companies purchasing sponsorships, public and private interests in international sport must coexist, most likely somewhere on a shifting spectrum between partnership and rivalry or cross purposes. As the World Cup wraps up, the IOC needs to consider its lessons before the scheduled 2028 Los Angeles Olympics if they want to avoid a media-hyped Trump version of the 1936 Berlin Olympiad. The IOC and the National Olympic Committees need to set conditions on and make demands of Trump’s government with clearly articulated consequences for non-compliance, up to and including cancellation of the Games. Time is running out for the IOC, as unlike with the FIFA World Cup, there is no at-the-ready alternate venue for Los Angeles.
Infantino opens door to 64-team World Cup
Plans for a 64-team men's world cup are set to be picked up and assessed in detail after the 2026 tournament with Fifa boss Gianni Infantino saying football needs to be "for the whole world".
Trump’s request for a review of Folarin Balogun’s red card has become a global test of FIFA’s political neutrality
The U.S. striker’s red-card ban was suspended after President Trump personally asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino for a review.
FIFA's red card reversal: Fair play or political interference?
FIFA's Disciplinary Committee suspended US striker Folarin Balogun's one-game red card ban in exchange for a probationary period of one year.The decision was announced after President Donald Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino and asked him to review the red card.The suspended red card means Balogun can play in Monday night's win-or-go-home match in Seattle versus Belgium.But the decision has faced harsh criticism from fans and The Union of European Football Associations, which said the red card suspension "crossed a red line."What does the red card debacle tell us about political interference in elite soccer?For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.This episode was produced by Jeffrey Pierre and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane and Tiffany Vera Castro. Our director is Kai McNamee.It was edited by William Troop and Tinbete Ermyas.Or interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.
Red card reversal of Folarin Balogun only latest example of politics entering sports arena
President Donald Trump talked about his conversation with FIFA President Gianni Infantino before the sport's governing body reversed the red card suspension against U.S. player Folarin Balogun.
World Cup 2026: President Donald Trump reportedly called FIFA's Gianni Infantino to review Folarin Balogun's red card suspension
FIFA World Congress in Vancouver, B.C., couldn’t shake politics
President Gianni Infantino botched a feel-good moment between Israeli, Palestinian soccer officials
Italy underwhelmed by Trump envoy's suggestion it should replace Iran at World Cup
President Donald Trump’s U.S. special envoy Paolo Zampolli told the Financial Times that he made the suggestion to the U.S. president and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
No Fifa plans for Iran-Italy swap at World Cup
Fifa stands by comments made last week by president Gianni Infantino in which he said that "the Iranian team is coming, for sure".
Infantino’s FIFA: Ten years of power, politics, and so-called ethics
Gianni Infantino promised reform, transparency, accountability, and a “new FIFA.” Ten years on, Infantino’s FIFA is instead defined by political proximity, weakened scrutiny, and an increasing alignment with state power at the highest levels.
‘Room for improvement’: EU sports czar warns FIFA over leadership before World Cup
Glenn Micallef tells POLITICO that Gianni Infantino has not provided safety assurances for European fans heading to the U.S. this summer.
Iran could boycott World Cup in wake of U.S. attacks, sports minister says
On Tuesday night, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said he had U.S. President Trump's assurance that Iran will be welcome at the tournament.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino called 'infantile' for wanting to lift Russia ban
Ukraine's sports minister calls Fifa president Gianni Infantino "irresponsible" and "infantile" for saying it will look at lifting a ban on Russia.
World Cup 2026: Fifa's Gianni Infantino defends ticket prices
Fifa president Gianni Infantino defends the cost of World Cup tickets following "absolutely crazy" demand from the public.
FIFA accused of breaking ethics rules after giving Peace Prize to Trump
FIFA's ethics committee has been asked to investigate Gianni Infantino, claiming he broke the governing body's rules on political neutrality.