As the world counts down to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the spotlight has shifted not just to the teams, but to the unprecedented partnership between President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino—a bond that’s shaping the very face of the tournament. The most recent chapter in their evolving relationship unfolded inside a luxury box at MetLife Stadium during the Club World Cup final in July 2025. While Chelsea was on its way to a shutout victory, Trump and Infantino were deep in discussion, plotting a move that would set the stage for one of soccer’s most anticipated spectacles: the World Cup group stage draw.
Traditionally, the World Cup draw is a high-drama event, revealing which nations will clash in the group stage and laying out the path to glory. This time, the draw—scheduled for December 5, 2025—will take place in Washington, D.C., at the Kennedy Center. It’s a venue steeped in American political and cultural history, and one that President Trump has, in his own way, left a mark on. According to Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA task force, the decision was clinched during that July match: “During that Club World Cup final, there was a real seriousness to well, look, if we’re going to do this, we’ve got to do it now.”
Trump’s involvement with global soccer might surprise some, given his more well-known ties to golf and American football. But his youngest son, Barron, is a soccer fanatic—so much so that he kept a net in the First Lady’s garden during Trump’s first term. That personal connection helped spark the president’s interest, which only intensified after the United States secured co-hosting rights for the 2026 World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada back in 2018.
Shortly after the U.S. was awarded the tournament, Trump welcomed Infantino to the White House. The FIFA president made a memorable impression, gifting Trump red and yellow penalty cards as a tongue-in-cheek tool for managing the press. Their rapport deepened over the years, with Infantino even calling Trump “my great friend” during a dinner at the Davos economic summit in 2020. Trump, never one to shy away from praise, reciprocated by inviting Infantino to the White House for the signing of the Abraham Accords.
Infantino’s connections with world leaders are nothing new, but his affinity for strongmen has raised eyebrows. He’s shared the stage with Russian President Vladimir Putin, even collecting the Russian Order of Friendship after the 2018 World Cup. Ahead of the 2022 tournament, Infantino relocated to Doha and staunchly defended Qatar amid fierce criticism over its treatment of migrant workers, famously remarking, “today, I feel (like) a migrant worker.”
When Joe Biden took office in 2021, Infantino’s interactions with the White House cooled considerably. There were only fleeting meetings—one on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali in 2022, another with Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff during the Women’s World Cup in 2023. Under Biden, World Cup preparations were kept low-key, with officials wary of promoting a close relationship with FIFA or drawing attention to large-scale gatherings in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But everything changed after Trump’s return to the presidency in 2024. Infantino wasted no time in congratulating Trump on his victory, attending the inauguration in January 2025, and establishing a FIFA office at Trump Tower in Manhattan. Their public appearances have become frequent and highly visible, with Infantino even working out of Trump Tower during the United Nations General Assembly week in September 2025.
Their partnership is more than just ceremonial. Infantino has teased the idea of Trump personally conducting the World Cup draw—a move that would cement the tournament’s “MAGA” branding in the eyes of many. Giuliani, the White House FIFA task force director, dubbed it the “MAGA-FIFA World Cup draw,” promising “high drama” worthy of an opera. Trump, for his part, called Infantino “probably the most respected man in sports.”
On August 22, 2025, Infantino presented Trump with a gold replica World Cup trophy in the Oval Office—an unusual gesture not extended to Mexico’s President Claudia Scheinbaum or Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney. The trophy, a symbol meant to belong to the sport as a whole, now resides in the White House, a testament to the unique relationship between the two leaders. No such honor has been publicly offered to the other co-hosting nations, underscoring the special status of the U.S. in this World Cup cycle.
Yet, this close alliance has not been without controversy. Trump has suggested he might move World Cup games away from cities he considers unsafe, injecting a dose of uncertainty into the tournament’s logistics. Such pronouncements have left FIFA and local organizers on edge, as the president’s unpredictable style could expose the event to legal and operational headaches. Still, those involved in the planning remain optimistic. “This needs to go well in order to show the world that if you want to have the best sports and entertainment events, you want to have them in the United States,” said Alex Lasry, CEO of the New York/New Jersey host committee.
Infantino’s public alignment with Trump has also drawn criticism from traditional soccer powerhouses in Europe and South America. He’s been criticized for missing his own FIFA Congress in Paraguay in May, opting instead to meet with Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Middle East. Such moves have fueled perceptions that FIFA’s leadership is increasingly centered on political alliances rather than the sport’s traditional heartlands.
Meanwhile, ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup are now open, and excitement is building despite lingering questions about the tournament’s organization and inclusivity. U.S. immigration policies remain a hot topic, with concerns about how welcoming the country will be to international visitors. Infantino, for his part, has framed his relationship with Trump as “crucial” to the tournament’s success, emphasizing the need for smooth cooperation with federal, state, and local governments.
As the December draw approaches, all eyes will be on Washington, D.C., to see just how much the Trump-Infantino partnership will shape the World Cup’s narrative. Will Trump take center stage at the Kennedy Center and personally conduct the draw? Will his administration’s policies and preferences influence the tournament’s logistics and legacy? Those questions linger, adding a layer of drama to an already high-stakes global event.
One thing is clear: The 2026 FIFA World Cup is shaping up to be as much about politics and personalities as it is about the beautiful game. With Trump and Infantino at the helm, fans can expect a tournament that’s as unpredictable as it is spectacular. The world will be watching—not just the matches, but the leaders behind the scenes, as they orchestrate one of the biggest sporting events in history.
