In a striking display of power and influence, former U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino have seemingly taken control of the 2026 World Cup, using the global tournament as a stage for political and personal gain.
The two men convened in the Oval Office last week to announce a task force aimed at resolving the logistical challenges surrounding the 2026 World Cup in North America—challenges largely created by one of them. Trump, ever the showman, was presented with a large, golden FIFA Club World Cup trophy, while Infantino, basking in the presence of political power, was affectionately dubbed “the king of soccer, I guess, in a certain way” by Trump.
At the event, Infantino made grand claims about the economic impact of the tournament, estimating a $40 billion boost and the creation of 200,000 jobs. Trump, in turn, signed a document officially recognizing the task force. However, such a move was largely symbolic, as no presidential decree was necessary for its creation.
The spectacle was unmistakable. Infantino’s presentation of the Club World Cup trophy—a gaudy, golden structure unlocking its rings with a key—visibly impressed Trump. He was also given an official match ball with his printed signature, a move that seemed to perfectly cater to his love for grand gestures.
Throughout the event, Trump made a series of inaccurate statements, including claiming that the 2026 World Cup would be “the first time it’s ever been in this part of the world.” In reality, North America has previously hosted three men’s World Cups—Mexico in 1970 and 1986, and the United States in 1994. At one point, he even interrupted Infantino to ask, “Can the U.S. win?”—a question that was left unanswered.
Infantino, who has a history of cozying up to strongmen, has effectively ensured that the upcoming tournament will be remembered as the “Donald Trump World Cup.” The FIFA president, who has been awarded the Russian Federation’s Order of Friendship, has long mastered the art of aligning himself with influential leaders, offering them the World Cup as a platform while securing a lucrative and controlled environment for FIFA.
Trump, for his part, has already tied the tournament to his own political narrative. “When we made this,” he said, referring to the 2026 World Cup, “it was made during my first term, and it was so sad, because I said, ‘Can you imagine, I’m not going to be president?’ And that’s too bad. And what happened is they rigged the election, and I became president, and so that was a good thing.”
Trump’s claim references the 2020 election, which he lost with no evidence of fraud, and his subsequent re-election in 2024.
Meanwhile, FIFA has embraced more commercialized and Americanized aspects of sports entertainment, with plans to introduce an unprecedented halftime show during the 2026 World Cup final. The tournament, already set to be the largest in history, will feature more teams and matches than ever before, and FIFA’s discussions about expanding to 64 teams for 2030 indicate that commercialization remains a priority.
The meeting between Infantino and Trump did not end at the Oval Office. The FIFA president later joined Trump at a White House crypto summit, where he once again showcased the Club World Cup trophy. However, this time, Infantino made a more direct appeal: “FIFA is very, very interested in developing a FIFA coin,” he told attendees. “If there is anyone here who is interested in teaming up with FIFA, here we are.”
The 2026 World Cup, set to be a defining moment in global football, is rapidly becoming a vehicle for political and financial ambitions. As the tournament draws closer, it remains to be seen how much of the event will be about the sport itself—and how much will be about those pulling the strings behind the scenes.
