FIFA president Gianni Infantino is experiencing a notable decline in support within the organization.
Details: Romain Molina reports that this shift is largely due to Infantino’s strong lobbying efforts for Donald Trump and his consistent backing of White House policies. Many national federations are puzzled; despite his visible loyalty to the US president, he didn’t manage to secure full tax exemptions for participants in the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
So far, only 18 federations have obtained partial exemptions through bilateral agreements, while the remaining teams will face full taxation in the United States.
Tensions at FIFA’s Zurich headquarters have escalated, leading even Secretary General Mattias Grafström to question Infantino’s approach. Grafström has reportedly attempted to ease the situation and address the concerns of officials who feel that Infantino is intertwining football with political matters too heavily.
Reminder: FIFA also turned down Iran’s request to relocate matches outside the United States.