Gianni Infantino selects Donald Trump! The FIFA Council meeting is postponed because the president's meeting with the U.S. leader coincides with his trip to Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Gianni Infantino is set to accompany U.S. President Donald Trump on his visits to Qatar and Saudi Arabia, prompting a rescheduling of the FIFA Council meeting.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The FIFA Council meeting, originally set for an in-person gathering in Paraguay on Tuesday, May 13, has been moved to a virtual format on Friday, as reported by The Athletic.
President Trump’s Middle East trip will include high-profile discussions with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE. A highlight of the visit will be the Saudi-U.S. investment forum, which will convene top government and business leaders. Notable attendees are expected to include BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and Citigroup’s Jane Fraser among other leading U.S. financiers.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Significantly, the previous two FIFA Council meetings in December 2024 and March 2025 were conducted virtually as well, with Infantino participating remotely from FIFA’s Zurich headquarters. While the Council meeting format has changed, the 75th FIFA Congress will proceed as scheduled on May 15 in Asunción, Paraguay. This major gathering will bring together football’s most influential figures to address strategic planning, governance matters, and preparations for future competitions – most notably the 2026 World Cup.
DID YOU KNOW?
This week, President Trump reinforced his administration’s dedication to the upcoming tournament by unveiling key leadership roles in the U.S. World Cup organization. Andrew Giuliani will serve as Executive Director of the World Cup Task Force, while former U.S. Soccer Federation president Carlos Cordeiro has been brought on board as Senior Advisor for the event.
WHAT NEXT?
Infantino’s involvement in the U.S. President’s tour underscores football’s increasingly prominent role in global diplomacy. The North American bid, awarded in 2018 during Trump’s initial presidency, will see the U.S. host the majority of matches (75%) – culminating in the final at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on July 19.
