Global Economic Times

Infantino, FIFA President, Skips Paraguay FIFA Congress During Trump's Saudi Visit, Amplifying Political Maneuvering Controversy: Graciela Maria Reporter / Updated : 2025-05-09 12:07:25

Gianni Infantino, the FIFA President, is facing controversy as he is reportedly planning to visit Saudi Arabia during U.S. President Donald Trump's state visit, coinciding with the FIFA annual congress in Paraguay. The fact that the FIFA President is skipping parts of the congress, where 211 member associations of FIFA gather for their annual meeting, is highly unusual and has sparked increased criticism regarding Infantino's political activities.

According to an Associated Press report on the 9th (local time), citing a FIFA statement, "The FIFA President has accepted invitations to attend a series of important events with world leaders where the FIFA World Cup will be discussed." Infantino is also expected to visit Qatar, the host of the 2022 World Cup, as part of Trump's Middle East tour.

Infantino has maintained a close relationship with Trump during his first term, meeting approximately ten times since last December at the White House, including for the 2026 North American World Cup preparation task force meeting. He is also known to regularly meet with Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, which secured the hosting rights for the 2034 World Cup. Infantino is credited with playing a crucial role in Saudi Arabia's successful bid in the uncontested vote last December.

Infantino is scheduled to return to the FIFA Congress in Asunción, Paraguay, on the 16th after his Middle East visit. However, his partial absence from this significant gathering, the last time FIFA member nations convene before the 2026 World Cup, is unprecedented in FIFA's history. This congress is particularly meaningful as it marks the first in-person meeting of all member nations since the 2034 World Cup hosting rights were awarded to Saudi Arabia via an online vote six months ago, and since the 2030 World Cup was decided to be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with single matches in Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay.

Initially, Infantino was scheduled to preside over an in-person FIFA Council meeting in Asunción on the 12th, ahead of the congress. However, this meeting was moved to an online format on the 9th. This schedule change is interpreted as a measure to accommodate Infantino's Middle East visit, which he has detailed on his Instagram account as having geopolitical significance.

FIFA and Infantino have consistently emphasized that maintaining a good relationship with the Trump administration is essential for the safe and successful hosting of the 2026 World Cup, which will involve 48 countries over six weeks. Trump's support was crucial during the 2018 North American World Cup bid, and FIFA appears to prioritize cooperation with the U.S. for the success of the upcoming World Cup.

However, it is reported that Infantino did not have any official meetings with President Joe Biden during his four-year term, which ended in January. They were photographed together at the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, in 2022.

Infantino has cultivated a close political and financial relationship with Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman since before the 2018 Russia World Cup. Saudi Arabia has emerged as a major FIFA sponsor, backed by vast oil wealth, and Infantino's pro-Saudi stance is widely seen as being related to this background.

On the 14th, while FIFA delegates are busy preparing for the congress in Paraguay, Infantino is scheduled to attend the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Projects related to the 2034 World Cup are expected to be key topics of discussion. Saudi Arabia is investing tens of billions of dollars in stadium construction and urban and transportation infrastructure ahead of the World Cup.

Infantino also attended a similar conference in Miami Beach, U.S., in February, where he was seated alongside Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, Elon Musk, and Saudi officials. Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the U.S., and Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Public Investment Fund, also attended the event.

Some figures in the football community have expressed concern that Infantino is increasingly focusing on international politics rather than the sport itself, which FIFA governs. They argue that while the FIFA President's role should primarily involve overseeing the development and fair administration of football, his emphasis on political activities could compromise FIFA's neutrality.

UEFA released a statement on Thursday, saying, "We have been informed that the (Council) meeting has been rescheduled for this week." However, UEFA added, "We prefer not to comment on the reasons and suggest that any inquiries be directed to FIFA," indirectly expressing their discomfort with Infantino's actions.

Meanwhile, Trump is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, on his first overseas tour since returning to office in January. His Middle East tour is expected to be a significant turning point in U.S. foreign policy, with a focus on redefining relations with Saudi Arabia. The timing of Infantino's visit to Saudi Arabia, coinciding with Trump's visit, is seen by many as more than a mere coincidence.

Infantino's absence from the FIFA Congress in Paraguay and his plan to visit Saudi Arabia during Trump's visit have raised serious questions about FIFA's political neutrality. Criticism is growing within and outside the football community regarding the FIFA President's overt political activities beyond sports diplomacy, and concerns are being raised about the potential negative impact on FIFA's operations and image. It remains to be seen how FIFA will address these controversies and what repercussions Infantino's actions will have on the international football community.