The World Cup has entered the quarter-finals and the tournament has had it all so far: the early ousting of a strong team (Germany), the debate over whether an aging superstar (Lionel Messi) is still around, and an underdog in the form of a tiny nation (Cape Verde) making it to the knockout stages.
But by far the biggest talking point off the field centered around the U.S. game against Bosnia-Herzegovina. After the match, US President Donald Trump personally intervened and asked FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review the red card shown to American striker Folarin Balogun, which resulted in a one-match ban.
Amazingly, FIFA sided with the USA and reinstated Balogun two days before the USA’s next match.
While much of the debate surrounding the incident centers on Trump, there are also questions to be asked about Infantino’s actions, FIFA’s policies and whether the World Cup has retained its luster.
Independent solution?
FIFA’s decision raised questions about Infantino’s close relationship with Trump. FIFA has mechanisms – intricate and hidden in its own Disciplinary Code – for resolving disputes between players, federations and teams. FIFA officials insisted that the Disciplinary Committee acted independently and denied that Trump’s phone call had any impact.
Even Infantino took the extraordinary step of issuing his own denial.
Friends in high places
Trump clearly felt ready to reach out to Infantino because the two leaders have a strong relationship.
In December 2025, Infantino presented Trump with the first FIFA World Prize, a decision that appears to have been a unilateral one made by the FIFA president.
Six months later, the Trump administration launched a war with Iran that has killed thousands of innocent civilians.
It seems the love goes both ways: After the decision to red card Balogun, Trump praised Infantino, saying:
He is a smart and strong man and his stock has skyrocketed because the work he did was great.
Infantino developed a habit of befriending authoritarian leaders. In the past, he played favorites with them and even ignored them when their politics interfered with important football matters.
Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Infantino has remained remarkably silent on the US travel bans that have affected fans and players alike. The US banned travel from a quarter of the qualifying countries, turning many fans (and at least one referee) back at airports.
Infantino was forced to accept American travel restrictions on the Iranian national team. After the outbreak of war in Iran, the team was forced to move its base to Tijuana in Mexico. Players were only able to travel to the US for matches the day before kick-off and were subject to lengthy immigration checks.
After Iran’s first draw with New Zealand, Infantino visited their dressing room. Iran’s coach slammed the fairness of the competition. The Athletic called Infantino reduced to the role of a “court jester” unable to challenge Trump’s authority.
He has a form of groveling before bullies. In 2014, Russian military forces captured the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine. Infantino was the secretary general of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), and although he banned Crimean clubs from participating in Russian competitions, he also oversaw the creation of a local league that separated these clubs from Ukraine as well.
In 2018, he was FIFA president when Russia hosted the FIFA World Cup, an event he called “the best (…) ever.” The following year, Putin awarded Infantino the Russian Order of Friendship for his service to Russia. Infantino also officially supports the return of Russian athletes to FIFA competitions, despite the country’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
He also supported Qatari officials in 2022. As the Qataris faced criticism for their labor practices – a brutal system of forced labor that led to an estimated 6,500 deaths in the years leading up to the World Cup – Infantino came to the hosts’ defense.
Anti-corruption campaign?
Infantino’s closeness to authoritarian leaders such as Putin and Trump may surprise some football observers, as Infantino only became FIFA president as part of the reform process. In May 2015, US federal prosecutors charged 14 football bureaucrats with crimes including fraud, racketeering and money laundering. The scandal involved then-President Sepp Blatter, who was forced to resign in December 2015.
Infantino was a member of the 2016 reform committee and received support from European and North American federations as an anti-corruption candidate. His narrow victory over Jordanian Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa was hailed as a victory for real change in the football world.
However, over the ten years of his presidency, Infantino became increasingly authoritarian and less transparent. He put an end to reform processes that exposed FIFA’s poor management. He fired officials involved in ethics investigations.
Infantino’s tit-for-tat style maintains close relationships with autocrats and benefits FIFA. In 2026, US investigators ended their investigation into financial fraud in world football, saying it was “no longer consistent with the Trump administration’s priorities.”
FIFA’s financial resources are bolstered by support from American television dollars and Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds.
Infantino maintains close relations with Saudi Arabia’s ruler, Mohammed bin Salman. Eager to repay the favor, Infantino oversaw the process of awarding the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia despite the regime’s poor human rights record. Another possible bidder, Australia, has been stunned by behind-the-scenes maneuvering between FIFA, Saudi Arabia and the Asian Football Confederation.
Pressure to resign?
Blatter, the man Infantino replaced, was sharply critical of Infantino and Trump’s behavior. On X he wrote:
Red cards are not canceled by political phone calls. They are overruled by rules, evidence and independent authorities.
With the fiction of FIFA’s neutrality now clear, pressure is mounting on the executive committee to replace Infantino. Calls for his resignation are coming from football insiders in Europe, with Sky Sports presenter Geoff Stelling calling it an “absolute disgrace” and calling for Infantino to resign.
German manager Jurgen Klopp also called for his resignation, as did British journalist and former England captain Gary Lineker.
UEFA officials are reported to be discussing possible alternatives to Infantino. North American soccer leaders appear to favor Canadian Victor Montagliani, who may have some support outside America given Canada’s handling of the 2026 World Cup.
Perhaps more worrying for Infantino are demands for an investigation from 72 European lawmakers in the European Parliament. His predecessor was also subject to an external judicial investigation.
Even so, although some in the press consider his position “untenable”, the twice-re-elected FIFA president will likely be able to fend off threats to his rule unless European Union (and perhaps North American) officials can put financial pressure on FIFA.
Infantino is very popular with sports officials in the global south, who benefit from the money he brings to the game. The most important federations in terms of voting – the African and Asian Confederations – look set to support him for an unprecedented fourth term.
What remains unsaid is that FIFA cannot and never has been politically neutral. Tensions persist between the global north and south within the organization.
The bigger problem, however, is the concentration of power within FIFA and how it exercises it externally. The organization’s government connections are essential to running the increasingly complex global tournament. Infantino’s global game is based on money and power. As they become increasingly concentrated in the hands of fewer people, the opportunities to challenge his leadership diminish.