When Gianni Infantino assumed the presidency of FIFA in 2016, he pledged to restore transparency to an organization still reeling from decades of scandal.
The Secret Deal
Behind the scenes, Infantino quietly aligned himself with Joshua Kushner, the younger brother of Donald Trump’s son‑in‑law, to market a 20 % stake in the World Cup’s commercial rights.
The arrangement, later called the FIFA Forward Enterprise, offered each of FIFA’s 211 member associations $20 million to endorse the plan, while those who refused would receive only a fraction of that amount.
Pressure from European and other confederations forced Infantino to abandon the proposal, but leaked documents later revealed that a broadcast agreement linked to the scheme had already attracted the attention of U.S. investigators.
Political Entanglements
Infantino’s political overtures extended beyond football. He rented office space in Trump Tower, attended inauguration events and even publicly praised a Nobel Peace Prize that the former president never received, drawing sharp criticism from UEFA, CONCACAF and AFC.
The fallout reached the pitch when Infantino intervened to lift red‑card suspensions for Cristiano Ronaldo and Folarin Balogun, and he introduced the FIFA Peace Prize as a tribute to Donald Trump.
His tenure also brought eye‑catching innovations such as three‑minute hydration breaks, halftime entertainment and dynamic ticket pricing, all of which boosted FIFA’s revenues but sparked debate over the sport’s traditional rhythm.
A Fragile Future
With the 106‑vote threshold for re‑election now out of reach, the confederations of Europe, South America and Asia have united against him, making his return to the FIFA presidency all but impossible.
The episode underscores how personal ambition, political patronage and opaque financial schemes can intersect within the highest echelons of international sport, leaving a legacy of reform promises unfulfilled.