FIFA president Gianni Infantino says his relationship with USA President Donald Trump has helped smoothen some of the issues that have marred the 2026 World Cup.

• FIFA president Gianni Infantino insists that he doesn’t regret the USA being granted the rights to co-host the 2026 World Cup, despite everything that has happened.
• The USA, which will host 75% of the 104 games at this year’s tournament, refused to grant referee Omar Artan a visa and created an environment that made it impossible for Iran to be based in America.
• Infantino added that his relationship with US President Donald Trump has helped in the organisation of this year’s tournament, which has been marred by controversies.
• For more World Cup news, please visit the News24 dedicated 2026 World Cup page.

In Mexico City 

 Gianni Infantino doesn’t regret FIFA’s decision to award the United States of America (USA) the rights to co-host the 2026 World Cup, despite the various issues from the North American country that have tarnished this year’s global showpiece before a ball has even been kicked.

The world football governing body, which Infantino leads as its president, has been fanning various fires started by the USA administration under his friend President Donald Trump.

The biggest challenge FIFA has had to deal with is the visa restrictions America has imposed under Trump, which go against the spirit of the World Cup - a global party that allows football fans to comfortably make the quarterly pilgrimage to celebrate the best of the beautiful game.

This World Cup has seen one of the world’s top referees, Somali official Omar Artan, being denied a visa to enter the USA to officiate in the tournament after he was chosen by FIFA to do so.

READ | Chill and relax, FIFA president responds to visa debacle: ‘We are not kings of the world’

Iran, whose group stage games are to be staged in the USA, were forced to relocate their base to Mexico due to the USA-Iran diplomatic spats and ongoing war.

Trump even said he couldn’t guarantee Iran’s safety in the country that he leads.

Journalists and football fans from the Global South have dominated the list of people who have also struggled to get visas to America, which will host 75% of the 104 matches that will be played across the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Canada and Mexico will host just 13 games apiece, with the remaining 78 held in America.

The ticket prices for the tournament have been astronomical, and the USA has made things worse by exponentially increasing domestic travel fares, making the tournament out of reach for many football lovers.

Infantino defended that decision by saying the prices were on par with what Americans pay for playoff tickets in the National Basketball Association.

Administrators in New York, California and Texas have even launched investigations into FIFA’s ticketing process for this tournament.

When News24 asked Infantino, at his press conference to open the World Cup in Mexico City on Wednesday, if he regrets the decision to award America the rights to host the tournament, the FIFA president was emphatic in his response.

“No! I don’t regret anything,” said Infantino.

“I have been organising events for the last 30 years, probably, between UEFA and FIFA. I am looking at my colleagues here (who have been doing this for a long time).

“I am pretty much used to dealing with issues. If there are no big issues, there are small issues - small issues that become big issues as well.

“At the press conference I made 10-and-a-half-years ago, you will remember that the issues there were different - probably bigger. I was feeling that I had to give a voice to those who are unheard, from the Global South - I have been told.

“So, there are issues which is normal for an event of this magnitude... But, hey, that’s what we have to deal with.

“Some of the issues come from the United States, some from Canada and Mexico. We deal with them with the same positive spirit. Hopefully, we can solve all of them. Probably not. But we will still do our best.”

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FIFA have uncharacteristically bent to the whims of the American government. This is in contrast to the draconian rules that FIFA have imposed on its previous hosts.

It persuaded Brazil to rescind its law banning alcohol sales in its stadiums, while South Africa relaxed its public drinking laws. Russia was forced to change some of its visa rules.

The criticism has been that Infantino hasn’t stood his ground when it comes to America because of his relationship with Trump.

The FIFA president has seen Trump more than any other world leader since taking over the world football governing body.

Infantino even wore Trump’s MAGA (Make America Great Again) inspired red cap with the USA name plastered on it at the “Board of Peace” meeting in Washington earlier this year.

That red cap has become a symbol of the USA’s strong anti-immigration stance that resulted in even some of its citizens being swept up in raids by the country’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The FIFA president also created a Peace Prize that he awarded to Trump, after a campaign to attain the American the Nobel Peace Prize proved unsuccessful.

“I have a great relationship with President Trump,” Infantino said when asked if his friendship with the US president has helped or hampered the organisation of the 2026 World Cup.

“I am very happy about that. I got to know him during his first mandate. We have been working very closely now in his second term. Without his engagement and involvement, I think that it would have been impossible to organise the World Cup in the United States.

“He understood immediately the magnitude of the World Cup, the impact of the World Cup. He instructed the administration to help and assist.

“Now, you are speaking about the biggest power in the world. So, of course, there are some things that have to be taken into account...

“But, to be able to exchange with the president on different topics, with his administration - putting everything on the table without asking for anything has been the key to having a positive relationship. That’s the way I see it.”