THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Infantino and Trump: why the 2026 World Cup will be controversial" Back Sports September 15th, 2025 Author Andrea Lamperti Donald Trump’s shadow over the 2026 FIFA World Cup With the approval of his partner-friend, ‘Johnny’ Infantino After a World Cup in Russia (2018) and a winter edition in Qatar (2022), and with an expanded, itinerant edition across three continents on the horizon (2030) and another journey to the Persian Gulf (Saudi Arabia 2034), it was by no means easy to legitimize the 2026 edition as a controversial World Cup . FIFA , after all, has forced us over the past decade to recalibrate every standard in this regard, and the upcoming tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada initially seemed the most normal of this particular historical moment . But then Donald Trump returned to the White House, the geopolitical scenario—both regional and global—changed drastically, and the next FIFA World Cup edition sank into an abyss of controversies, perplexities, and criticism . Visualizza questo post su Instagram Un post condiviso da Gianni Infantino - FIFA President (@gianni_infantino) It couldn’t be otherwise, after repeated visits of the global football leader Gian…

Red card furor puts Trump and Gianni Infantino’s relationship under the spotlight again <p>ATLANTA &#8212; The relationship between Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, long in the making, is now at the center of one of the great World Cup controversies, sparking anger, disbelief and questions about the integrity of global sport&#8217;s biggest tournament.</p>

FIFA boss referred to Olympic ethics board over Trump's World Cup call Gianni Infantino's close ties with Donald Trump continue to land him in hot water after the US President's World Cup intervention.

President Trump to present World Cup trophy at final, FIFA boss Gianni ... NEW JERSEY --U.S. President Donald Trump will present the trophy to the winners of the World Cup final in New Jersey on July 19, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed. In a break from recent FIFA protocol, the trophy will be jointly presented to the captain of the winning team by Trump and Infantino. At Qatar 2022 and Russia 2018, the two previous World Cups staged under Infantino's leadership, the FIFA president presented the trophy. "We will be together with the president[Trump]enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course, together," Infantino told Fox& Friends. "We are together all the time." The decision to co-present the trophy follows on from the controversy surrounding the presentation of the FIFA Club World Cup to Chelsea after their victory over Paris Saint-Germain in New Jersey last summer. President Trump was allowed to present the trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James, but his failure to leave the stage led to him taking part in the team celebrations alongside bemused players. Although recent World Cups have been handed to the victors by Infantino and his pred…

Trump Wanted a U.S. Soccer Star to Play in the World Cup. FIFA Found a Way. FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, speaks to President Donald Trump during an Oval Office visit in November.

Donald Trump to present World Cup trophy at final, FIFA boss ... - ESPN U.S. President Donald Trump will present the trophy to the winners of the World Cup final in New Jersey on July 19, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed. In a break from recent FIFA protocol, the trophy will be jointly presented to the captain of the winning team by Trump and Infantino. At Qatar 2022 and Russia 2018, the two previous World Cups staged under Infantino's leadership, the FIFA president presented the trophy. "We will be together with the president [Trump] enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course, together," Infantino told "Fox & Friends." "We are together all the time." The decision to co-present the trophy follows the controversy surrounding the presentation of the FIFA Club World Cup toChelseaafter their victory overParis Saint-Germainin New Jersey last summer. Trump was allowed to present the trophy to Chelsea captainReece James, but his failure to leave the stage led to him taking part in the team celebrations alongside bemused players. -Haaland is on a collision course with Mbappé, and the World Cup is better for it-Fashion police: How FIFA works to p…

Why Infantino defended Trump relationship ahead of World Cup WORLD CUP Men's World Cup Add Topic Infantino defends Trump ties as World Cup arrives under a cloud it can’t ignore Kristie Ackert USA TODAY June 10, 2026, 5:38 p.m. ET Hear this story The World Cup opens Thursday, but first on Wednesday FIFA president Gianni Infantino had some explaining to do. He has spent 15 months publicly embracing U.S. President Donald Trump , giving him awards and pledging money to him, while Trump’s immigration policies have been barring World Cup fans, team officials and one of the tournament’s top referees from entering the host country . On Wednesday, the eve of kickoff, Infantino faced the press in Mexico City for the first time since 2023 and he was asked about the alliance. His answer was unapologetic. Without Trump, none of this happens, he said. “Without his engagement and his involvement, I think it would have been impossible,” Infantino said at Estadio Azteca. “Simply as simple as that.” The statement was striking in the middle of a tournament already drowning in controversy before the first match has even kicked off. The most damaging involves Somali referee Omar Artan , the 2025 CAF R…

Who is FIFA president Gianni Infantino? - USA TODAY WORLD CUP Men's World Cup Add Topic Who is Gianni Infantino? FIFA president prepares for 2026 World Cup Victoria Hernandez USA TODAY June 9, 2026 Updated June 10, 2026, 1:04 p.m. ET Hear this story The FIFA World Cup is taking over the summer. This year's tournament will be hosted by three countries for the first time. The record 104 matches will be played across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The World Cup happens every four years, with the women's World Cup played in between the men's. So who orchestrates all of this every two years? FIFA, and the federation's president, Gianni Infantino. "This will be the biggest, the most inclusive, the greatest FIFA World Cup ever," Infantino promised in a press conference just weeks before the tournament's kickoff on June 11. Infantino took the helm of soccer's governing body after officials cleaned house due to corruption in 2016. Controversy at FIFA has not totally gone away since he took over. Regardless, the men's World Cup continues to be an event worth billions of dollars every four years and Infantino has kept his promise of expanding the beautiful game. Who is Gianni Infantin…

FIFA's neutrality in question as Infantino cozies up to Trump FIFA's president Gianni Infantino has been most visible ingratiating himself with US President Donald Trump ahead of the 2026 World Cup, so much so that he has had to defend himself from accusations of breaching FIFA's duty of political neutrality. FRANCE 24's Emerald Maxwell reports.

Trump threat on Iran embarrasses FIFA president Gianni Infantino WORLD CUP Men's World Cup Add Topic Gianni Infantino tied himself too closely to Donald Trump — and it’s backfiring Seth Vertelney USA TODAY Updated March 19, 2026, 3:22 p.m. ET Hear this story FIFA President Gianni Infantino's support for Donald Trump has been met with actions that have created challenges for the organization. Trump has created uncertainty around Iran's participation in the World Cup, despite Infantino's assurances. Recent geopolitical events have led to the cancellation or postponement of several international soccer matches. Infantino's close relationship with Trump has been criticized for potentially violating FIFA's political neutrality statutes. Even after the limitless support Gianni Infantino has offered Donald Trump , the U.S. president is clearly not opposed to publicly tossing the FIFA president under an 18-wheeler. Last week, Infantino assured the world that Trump would "welcome" Iran to the United States for the World Cup. One day later, Trump reiterated that message in a post on Truth Social – and then launched it into the sun. "The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup,…

Red card furor puts Trump and Infantino's relationship under the spotlight again ATLANTA (AP) -- The relationship between Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, long in the making, is now at the center of one of the grea

Infantino, Trump and how Fifa went full Maga at the Club World Cup Just before Reece James went to lift the Club World Cup trophy, the Chelsea captain politely told Donald Trump that they were likely about to leap around in celebration so he might want to move. A remarkable sentence in itself. The US president, according to sources in the middle of this, very much gave the impression he was loving it and wanted to stay . You can see the images for yourself. There’s certainly something incongruous about the player of the tournament, Cole Palmer, looking confused beside one of the world’s most powerful leaders in this moment of triumph. That kind of scene is no longer new, of course, but it does look like it’s becoming normalised in this authoritarian-leaning political era. This was one step up from Qatar 2022. If that saw the Emir give Lionel Messi the otherwise innocent garment of the bisht in the centre of an immortal image in order to signal his state’s presence, this was a leader himself in the middle of it. If Chelsea want a giant poster of their trophy-lift outside Stamford Bridge, Trump will be front and centre. We’re beyond symbolism here. It’s too obvious. As stunning as i…

Trump and Infantino: How a friendship is shaping the World Cup President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino have developed a close relationship. Here’s how their bond is shaping the 2026 World Cup. President Donald Trump holds the FIFA World Cup Winners Trophy as FIFA President Gianni Infantino looks on during an announcement in the Oval Office of the White House, Aug. 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) President Donald Trump holds up a red card during a meeting with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, center, and United States Soccer Federation president Carlos Cordeiro, left, in the Oval Office of the White House, Aug. 28, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) President Donald Trump, center, speaks with Chelsea’s goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, right, as Chelsea’s Reece James holds the championship trophy following the Club World Cup final soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, gives a soccer ball to President Donald Trump during a press conference after their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, July 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Alexa…

World Cup 2026: Trump and Infantino, a bromance scrutinised and criticised FIFA President Gianni Infantino poke with reporters during a rare question-and-answer session on the eve of the opening match of an expanded 48-nation, 104-game World Cup tournament. He defended record ticket prices, said FIFA was powerless to get the US government to admit a Somali referee, and praised his ability to get Iran's national soccer team into the United States. FRANCE 24's International Affairs Editor Philip Turle tells us more about what is being called the "bromance" between Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino.