U.S. President Donald Trump distanced himself from FIFA President Gianni Infantino following the latter's unveiling of plans to introduce private investment partners into the World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup may be in the rearview mirror, but the controversy surrounding FIFA and the future of its global soccer tournament shows no signs of dying down anytime soon.
On July 28, Infantino put forward a new proposal that would allow private investors to acquire shares in the World Cup. The entity, dubbed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), drew widespread condemnation from soccer federations across the globe, with UEFA threatening to boycott future tournaments should the proposal ultimately be approved, as per The Mirror US.
The backlash proved so intense that Infantino's future as FIFA President has been called into question, with his closest aide announcing his resignation shortly afterward.
Trump, who has maintained a close relationship with Infantino after collaborating with him in the build-up to and throughout this summer's World Cup, acknowledged that the FIFA President had not run the private investment proposal by him prior to making the announcement earlier this week.
Speaking to reporters at Camp David on Friday, July 31, Trump was asked whether Infantino had consulted him regarding the proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup and whether he backed the contentious decision, to which the U.S. president responded, "No, I never spoke to him."
While Trump may not have been briefed by the FIFA President prior to the announcement, his connection to the project is impossible to ignore. FIFA's proposal outlined plans for the venture to be financially supported by capital holding company Thrive Eternal, founded by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Trump's son-in-law, Jared.
Trump hailed the 2026 World Cup as a tremendous triumph, even declaring ahead of the Final, which he attended alongside Infantino, that he wants the United States to stage another World Cup "immediately."
To listen to the latest episode of 'All Out Soccer' - CLICK HERE
This summer's tournament proved an enormous financial windfall, generating a record $15 billion through steep ticket prices and lucrative television rights agreements, among numerous other revenue streams.
With the next two men's World Cups already set to be held in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco in 2030 and Saudi Arabia in 2034, the earliest the U.S. can host again is the 2038 edition.
Given the breathtaking pace of change the tournament has undergone in just the past few years, predicting what the event will look like when 2038 arrives is anybody's guess.
Trump's influence was stamped all over this summer's World Cup, and not merely because he was entrusted with presenting the trophy to Spain following their 1-0 victory over Argentina in the final on July 19.
Earlier in the competition, the U.S. President contacted Infantino after U.S. Men's National Team forward Folarin Balogun was handed a one-game suspension for receiving a red card. He ultimately persuaded FIFA to suspend the ban, a move that triggered outrage from all corners — fans, analysts, politicians, and competing teams alike.
Source: Alloutsoccer.com
