What can halt Fifa’s authoritarian turn under Infantino? Change from the outside | Jules Boykoff
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has faced growing criticism for his close ties to Donald Trump and his proposal to privatize the World Cup with $20 billion in private capital. Critics argue that FIFA has adopted authoritarian governance practices, including bypassing proper consultation and limiting press freedom, while emulating political nepotism. Despite rebukes from some regional bodies, Infantino retains significant support from other confederations, making his removal before the next election a difficult prospect.
- ▪Infantino proposed injecting $20 billion in private capital into the World Cup, a move linked to investment vehicles associated with the Trump family.
- ▪Regional governing bodies in Europe, Asia, and North America have publicly criticized Infantino, with Europe threatening to boycott international competitions.
- ▪The Confederation of African Football and several other national associations have expressed support for Infantino, who needs 106 votes for re-election.
- ▪Infantino has declared his intention to run for another term in 2027, despite FIFA statutes limiting presidents to three terms.
- ▪Members of FIFA learned about the privatization plan through news reports rather than through internal consultation processes.
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| Original publisher | The Guardian — US |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/sep/12/fifa-gianni-infantino-donald-trump-change |
| Publication time | Sat, 12 Sep 2026 09:00:30 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-09-12T09:17:50.730Z |
| Last seen | 2026-09-12T09:17:50.730Z |
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Gianni Infantino’s ties to Donald Trump have drawn scrutiny from Fifa member associations around the globe. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/ReutersView image in fullscreenGianni Infantino’s ties to Donald Trump have drawn scrutiny from Fifa member associations around the globe. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/ReutersSoccerWhat can halt Fifa’s authoritarian turn under Infantino? Change from the outsideJules BoykoffThe World Cup and its aftermath made clear that Fifa needs independent oversight by governments and NGOs dedicated to preserving the people’s gameSat 12 Sep 2026 05.00 EDTLast modified on Sat 12 Sep 2026 05.01 EDTShareThe 2026 World Cup was a whirling swirl of scintillating soccer that prompted much-needed conversations about the vitality of diaspora, the fortitude of the underdog, the…
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