As President Trump continues his state visit to the Gulf States, he has been accompanied by Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, amidst a backdrop of close ties that have raised questions in the soccer community. This noteworthy partnership appears to extend beyond the typical host-nation rapport, particularly as the U.S. prepares to co-host the 2026 World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada.
During this tour, Infantino is slated to oversee a formal handover ceremony in Qatar, where the emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, will officially pass the World Cup hosting baton to Trump. Notably, representatives from Mexico and Canada are not anticipated to be in attendance, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing diplomatic relations between the U.S. and its northern neighbors.
Infantino's decision to join Trump in this venture has surprised many FIFA officials, who are convened for their annual congress in Paraguay, thousands of miles away. The FIFA board meeting originally scheduled for this week was hastily shifted to a virtual format, allowing Infantino to participate in the Gulf tour and such significant discussions around FIFA World Cups, as mentioned in a FIFA statement.
After this ceremonial event, Infantino is expected to head back to Paraguay to lead the congress, which experienced a minor rescheduling to accommodate the logistics of his travel with Trump. The dynamics of this partnership continue to unfold amid growing scrutiny on how these relationships might influence international soccer governance.
During this tour, Infantino is slated to oversee a formal handover ceremony in Qatar, where the emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, will officially pass the World Cup hosting baton to Trump. Notably, representatives from Mexico and Canada are not anticipated to be in attendance, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing diplomatic relations between the U.S. and its northern neighbors.
Infantino's decision to join Trump in this venture has surprised many FIFA officials, who are convened for their annual congress in Paraguay, thousands of miles away. The FIFA board meeting originally scheduled for this week was hastily shifted to a virtual format, allowing Infantino to participate in the Gulf tour and such significant discussions around FIFA World Cups, as mentioned in a FIFA statement.
After this ceremonial event, Infantino is expected to head back to Paraguay to lead the congress, which experienced a minor rescheduling to accommodate the logistics of his travel with Trump. The dynamics of this partnership continue to unfold amid growing scrutiny on how these relationships might influence international soccer governance.
