The second week of the World Cup finds many engrossed in the games, often at the cost of sleep due to time zone differences. For FIFA, the choice to host the tournament in the United States translates into substantial financial gain, marking this event as the most lucrative World Cup to date.
FIFA’s long-standing goal has been to capture the interest of the American audience. This ambition is evident in the relationship between Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s president, and former U.S. President Donald Trump. Few, if any, FIFA presidents have maintained such a close bond with a global leader, and this dynamic is reshaping FIFA.
Reporters Rebecca Ruiz and Tariq Panja explore this relationship, dubbing it the ‘Trumpification’ of FIFA.
“President Trump and Gianni Infantino at the White House in 2025. Credit…Tierney L. Cross/The New York Times”
Among Infantino’s controversial ideas was to introduce a FIFA peace prize. In the previous year, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the Venezuelan politician María Corina Machado. Trump, who had sought the Nobel, was displeased by the outcome.
Seizing this moment, Infantino, in an effort to support Trump, proposed that FIFA establish its own peace prize. Naturally, Trump was slated to be the first recipient.
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