FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing growing criticism for prioritising geopolitical networking and controversial commercial strategies over addressing fundamental concerns within world football governance.
Political Networking Raises Eyebrows
The football administrator caused widespread bemusement last month when he appeared alongside former US President Donald Trump at the Gaza peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh. Mr Infantino personally attended the event following an invitation from Mr Trump and proceeded to lavish praise on the controversial political figure.
"Now we can really write some new pages. Pages of togetherness, of peace, in a region which really, really needs it," Mr Infantino commented during the summit, celebrating Mr Trump's peace-making capabilities.
The relationship appears to be deepening with FIFA's announcement of an annual peace prize, scheduled to debut in Washington next month. Many observers suggest the inaugural award seems destined for Mr Trump, whom the FIFA president describes as both a "winner" and "close friend."
World Cup Ticketing Controversy
While Mr Infantino engages in high-profile diplomacy, significant problems are mounting within his core responsibilities at FIFA. The upcoming men's World Cup, scheduled to take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, has drawn sharp criticism for its ticketing arrangements.
FIFA has implemented dynamic pricing for tournament tickets, a decision that could see families facing costs running into thousands of dollars for a single match day. The system has already produced alarming examples, including a $2,030 ticket for the World Cup final being relisted for $25,000 the following day after FIFA removed caps on resale values.
Sports academic and Guardian US columnist Leander Schaerlaeckens has accused FIFA of being "fully focused on monetizing the sport, no matter the collateral damage" - a characterisation that recent developments appear to substantiate.
Broader Concerns About FIFA's Direction
Beyond immediate ticketing issues, broader concerns persist about FIFA's strategic direction under Mr Infantino's leadership. The organisation has developed increasingly close relationships with wealthy Middle Eastern nations, with critics accusing FIFA of becoming "the eager ally of super-rich sportswashing states such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia."
Saudi Arabia has subsequently been given a clear path to hosting the 2034 World Cup, while the football calendar becomes increasingly congested with commercial ventures like the expanded Club World Cup.
New York's Arsenal-supporting mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has launched a "Game over greed" petition condemning FIFA's ticketing strategy as an "affront to the game." He particularly lamented that, unlike the previous three World Cups, no tickets are being reserved for local residents.
Despite these criticisms, Mr Infantino continues to champion his vision, predicting the 2026 tournament will be "the biggest, best and most inclusive World Cup ever." While the claim about size is technically accurate due to the expansion from 32 to 48 teams, many football supporters are finding the reality of attending matches increasingly inaccessible.
