FIFA president defends relationship with Trump, Club World Cup controversies
Trump and Infantino have built a close relationship, showcased after several visits made by Infantino to the White House in the last year. FIFA also opened a new office inside Trump Tower this week during the Club World Cup.
Infantino said their friendship sparked when he saw a soccer net outside a window during his first visit to the White House in Trump's first presidency. They bonded when Trump told him his youngest son, Barron, loves the sport.
'He explained to me his son loved football. And of course, when you're parents, you love what your children love. So, I would think he loves [soccer],' Infantino said during a press briefing at Trump Tower on Saturday, July 12, before the Club World Cup final.
FINAL TICKETS: Prices slashed for PSG vs. Chelsea Club World Cup showdown
Infantino further explained his connection with Trump derives from needing government support from the United States to run the Club World Cup this summer and the World Cup next summer, which will be co-hosted with Canada and Mexico.
'He embraced immediately the importance of the FIFA Club World Cup, and the World Cup next year,' Infantino said of Trump.
Watch Club World Cup on DAZN
'He established a White House task force chaired by himself, which we all participate because events like the Club World Cup and World Cup are a huge, huge, huge events with 100s of thousands of people coming (into the country), going out (of the country), traveling to games.
'You cannot even think about organizing an event like this … such a competition without the full engagement and full support of the government.'
Infantino says Trump will attend the Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, July 13.
Reigning Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain will face English side Chelsea in the match to conclude the tournament, which has faced steep criticism.
While photos of empty seats at NFL-sized stadiums went viral on social media, Infantino said nearly 2.5 million fans attended Club World Cup matches. Infantino said fans from 168 countries attended matches.
'I prefer to put 35,000 people in an 80,000-seat stadium than 20,000 in a 20,000-seat stadium,' Infantino said.
FIFA's president said the Club World Cup has also generated 'almost $2.1 billion in revenue" and that the tournament has had 20 million viewers globally thanks to a broadcasting partnership with DAZN.
Infantino emphasized FIFA's claim that it will not pocket any of the revenue, instead re-investing the funds back into soccer clubs globally.
The Club World Cup winner will earn $40 million, while the runner-up gets $30 million as part of a $1 billion prize pool for the tournament. Another $250 million will be made as solidarity payments to teams around the world.
Still, Infantino is aware FIFA has work to do to ensure the World Cup – which will be held from June 11 to July 19, 2026 – will be a success.
One contentious point was the weather, with players and teams playing in temperatures higher than 90 degrees during afternoon matches played at noon or 3 p.m. to satisfy primetime viewing windows elsewhere in the world.
'Of course, the heat is an issue. … We need to look at what we can do better (next year) in America,' Infantino said. 'We also have stadiums that are covered and we need to use these stadiums more in the day. These are questions that we have to study.
'We can improve. We have to improve. And we will improve,' Infantino added.
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