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US lawmaker seeks Infantino testimony over alleged Trump ties
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is under fresh political scrutiny in the United States after Representative Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, opened an inquiry into FIFA’s interactions with Donald Trump and his administration in the lead‑up to and during the recent World Championship.
In a letter sent Sunday, Raskin requested that Infantino provide documents and communications related to any gifts, payments or benefits provided to Trump or his associates, as well as visitor logs for FIFA’s office space at Trump Tower in midtown Manhattan, which the organization opened last July. The committee also asked Infantino to sit for a transcribed interview. The deadline to produce materials and schedule the interview is 9 August. Because Democrats are in the minority, Raskin does not possess unilateral subpoena power and would need Republican support to compel testimony.
Infantino’s ties to Trump have drawn heightened attention since December, when the World Championship draw in Washington featured a newly created “FIFA peace prize” presented to Trump at the Kennedy Center. Renovations for the event were allegedly rushed on the administration’s orders. During the World Championship itself, Trump phoned Infantino multiple times to lobby for a review of USA striker Folarin Balogun’s controversial red‑card suspension before the Americans’ last‑16 match against Belgium. FIFA ultimately reversed Balogun’s ban, a decision that prompted sharp criticism from rival teams and federations who argued it undermined sporting integrity.
The political theater extended to the final, where Trump joined Infantino and leaders from Canada and Mexico for the trophy presentation after Spain defeated Argentina. The pair, who watched from a glass‑fronted luxury section, were met with boos from the New York New Jersey Stadium crowd when they stepped onto the field.
Raskin’s letter also cites the Department of Justice’s move to dismiss certain indictments tied to historic US investigations into global soccer corruption, including the sweeping 2015 cases against senior FIFA officials and marketing executives. Raskin contends that Infantino, whose election promised a clean break from FIFA’s scandal‑ridden past, weakened internal oversight early in his tenure by marginalizing the organization’s ethics committee—conditions that, he argues, enabled closer ties with the Trump administration. A New York University law professor and a former FIFA ethics committee member have previously described such tactics as “legal bribery,” according to the letter.
Beyond governance questions, ticketing policy is another flashpoint. FIFA’s use of dynamic pricing at the World Championship triggered multiple investigations from US state attorneys general and fueled accusations of price‑gouging that priced out many fans. Raskin argues the perceived proximity to the administration emboldened FIFA to push aggressive—and potentially unlawful—sales tactics that hurt US consumers.
Looking ahead, FIFA’s US footprint is set to grow. The USA is expected to be the primary host of the Women’s World Championship in 2031, and momentum from this year’s tournament has sparked speculation that the 2038 men’s event could also land in the States. FIFA has been approached for comment on the congressional inquiry. Earlier Monday, Infantino posted a 15‑part message on Instagram dismissing his critics as peddlers of hate and false narratives while hailing the World Championship as a success. Over 200 FIFA members have endorsed him ahead of next March’s presidential election, though dissent persists—Norway’s football federation plans to file an ethics complaint over Trump’s role in the Balogun decision.
The outcome of Raskin’s probe may hinge on bipartisan will. If Republicans choose not to align with the effort, the committee’s requests could remain voluntary, leaving the broader questions over FIFA’s governance and its interactions with US political power unresolved.
In a letter sent Sunday, Raskin requested that Infantino provide documents and communications related to any gifts, payments or benefits provided to Trump or his associates, as well as visitor logs for FIFA’s office space at Trump Tower in midtown Manhattan, which the organization opened last July. The committee also asked Infantino to sit for a transcribed interview. The deadline to produce materials and schedule the interview is 9 August. Because Democrats are in the minority, Raskin does not possess unilateral subpoena power and would need Republican support to compel testimony.
Infantino’s ties to Trump have drawn heightened attention since December, when the World Championship draw in Washington featured a newly created “FIFA peace prize” presented to Trump at the Kennedy Center. Renovations for the event were allegedly rushed on the administration’s orders. During the World Championship itself, Trump phoned Infantino multiple times to lobby for a review of USA striker Folarin Balogun’s controversial red‑card suspension before the Americans’ last‑16 match against Belgium. FIFA ultimately reversed Balogun’s ban, a decision that prompted sharp criticism from rival teams and federations who argued it undermined sporting integrity.
The political theater extended to the final, where Trump joined Infantino and leaders from Canada and Mexico for the trophy presentation after Spain defeated Argentina. The pair, who watched from a glass‑fronted luxury section, were met with boos from the New York New Jersey Stadium crowd when they stepped onto the field.
Raskin’s letter also cites the Department of Justice’s move to dismiss certain indictments tied to historic US investigations into global soccer corruption, including the sweeping 2015 cases against senior FIFA officials and marketing executives. Raskin contends that Infantino, whose election promised a clean break from FIFA’s scandal‑ridden past, weakened internal oversight early in his tenure by marginalizing the organization’s ethics committee—conditions that, he argues, enabled closer ties with the Trump administration. A New York University law professor and a former FIFA ethics committee member have previously described such tactics as “legal bribery,” according to the letter.
Beyond governance questions, ticketing policy is another flashpoint. FIFA’s use of dynamic pricing at the World Championship triggered multiple investigations from US state attorneys general and fueled accusations of price‑gouging that priced out many fans. Raskin argues the perceived proximity to the administration emboldened FIFA to push aggressive—and potentially unlawful—sales tactics that hurt US consumers.
Looking ahead, FIFA’s US footprint is set to grow. The USA is expected to be the primary host of the Women’s World Championship in 2031, and momentum from this year’s tournament has sparked speculation that the 2038 men’s event could also land in the States. FIFA has been approached for comment on the congressional inquiry. Earlier Monday, Infantino posted a 15‑part message on Instagram dismissing his critics as peddlers of hate and false narratives while hailing the World Championship as a success. Over 200 FIFA members have endorsed him ahead of next March’s presidential election, though dissent persists—Norway’s football federation plans to file an ethics complaint over Trump’s role in the Balogun decision.
The outcome of Raskin’s probe may hinge on bipartisan will. If Republicans choose not to align with the effort, the committee’s requests could remain voluntary, leaving the broader questions over FIFA’s governance and its interactions with US political power unresolved.