July 8 – FIFA has opened an office at Trump Tower in New York City, deepening its already close ties with the much-criticised US administration.
US President Donald Trump and FIFA supremo Gianni Infantino have long enjoyed something of a love-in, and this latest move by world football’s governing body cements its ties to the man and his sometimes controversial policies.
Campaign groups recently warned FIFA that it risks becoming a “public relations tool to whitewash the reputation of an increasingly authoritarian government” over a US immigration crackdown which many insist has impacted attendances at the Club World Cup.
That tournament ends on 13 July at MetLife Stadium, the home of two of New York’s biggest sporting franchises, and in a ceremony attended by Eric Trump, the US President’s son, and Brazilian football legend Ronaldo, Infantino announced that FIFA will put down permanent roots in the Big Apple.
“FIFA [is] a global organisation [and] to be global, you have to be local,” he said. “You have to be everywhere, so we have to be in New York – not just for the FIFA Club World Cup this year and the FIFA World Cup next year – we have to be in New York as well when it comes to where our offices are based.
“So today, we are opening an office of FIFA here in Trump Tower. Thank you, Eric [Trump], thank you to everyone. Thanks, of course, to President Trump as well, who is a big fan of soccer, [together with] the whole family. We have received such a big support from the government and from the President with the White House Task Force for the FIFA Club World Cup and for the FIFA World Cup next year. As well from the local authorities in all the host cities, it has been incredible and this has contributed, of course, to making the FIFA Club World Cup such an incredible success so far.”
With the office on Fifth Avenue, FIFA is expanding its operations in the United States, which is hosting the maiden edition of the 32-team CWC and will co-host the 2026 World Cup, the first global finals in a 48-team iteration.
It’s also a throwback to the past for the ‘new FIFA’. Previously, disgraced football officials Chuck Blazer and Jose Maria Marin held addresses at Trump Tower.
Eric Trump said: “On behalf of myself, on behalf of New York, on behalf of the Trump Organization and everybody that works in this building — we love you. We’re honoured, we’re excited about all the things that FIFA is doing.”
Infantino has developed a strong relationship with the US president and his family. On June 19, the FIFA president was at the Oval Office when Juventus visited the White House for what ended up being an awkward interaction between Trump and the Serie A team.
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