The President of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), Gianni Infantino, is reportedly seeking to garner political support from the United States government under the leadership of Donald Trump. This diplomatic move was taken after controversial plans to sell a portion of the commercial rights to global football tournaments faced massive opposition from various stakeholders.
Previously, FIFA designed a restructuring scheme by selling a 20 percent stake in a new entity managing the commercial rights of football competitions, including the World Cup. This move was targeted to attract private investment of up to US$4.2 billion, or approximately Rp65 trillion. However, the ambitious project was eventually officially canceled following a wave of criticism questioning organizational governance issues and the potential intervention of external investors in the independence of the competitions.
Following the failure of the investment plan, Infantino is reportedly feeling isolated due to negative public sentiment. Internal sources state that the FIFA President attempted to contact Donald Trump by phone to seek support, though the call was not successfully connected. Additionally, Infantino has scheduled a meeting and special coordination with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
To date, both FIFA and the White House spokesperson have chosen to remain silent and have not issued an official statement regarding the political lobbying efforts. This dynamic is believed to affect Infantino's political standing within FIFA, especially considering the Swiss native is currently preparing for the organization's presidential election for the 2027–2031 term.
