Gianni Infantino

Notable Quotes

"We all need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that Football Unites the World." — Gianni Infantino, Instagram, March 11, 2026

from Iran withdraws from 2026 World Cup after U.S.-Israeli strikes kill supreme leader · Updated May 30

“Football is a force for peace and unity.” — Gianni Infantino, defending the decision to honor Trump

from U.S. walks away from its flagship FIFA TV bribery case · Updated May 10

Infantino has framed the expansion as a way to ‘shape the World Cup for the 21st century’ and make football more truly global, while critics in Europe warn it is driven by politics and revenue.([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jan/10/fifa-vote-expand-world-cup-48-teams-from-2026?utm_source=openai))

from North America’s 2026 World Cup: from expansion gamble to mega-event reality · Updated May 10

Stories

Iran withdraws from 2026 World Cup after U.S.-Israeli strikes kill supreme leader

Force in Play

Managing World Cup logistics amid Iran's withdrawal

Iran qualified as a non-host nation for the 2026 World Cup, then withdrew a year later—the first qualified nation in the modern era to do so for political reasons. Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali announced the withdrawal three months after U.S.-Israeli military strikes killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and devastated the country's military infrastructure.

Updated May 30

U.S. walks away from its flagship FIFA TV bribery case

Rule Changes

Partnering with Trump as U.S. prepares to co‑host 2026 World Cup

U.S. prosecutors spent years proving that Hernan Lopez, a former Fox International Channels CEO, and the sports marketing firm Full Play bribed South American soccer officials to lock down lucrative TV rights. A Brooklyn jury convicted them in 2023.

Updated May 10

North America’s 2026 World Cup: from expansion gamble to mega-event reality

Rule Changes

Architect of 2026 expansion and joint hosting model

In January 2017, FIFA voted to expand the men's World Cup from 32 to 48 teams starting in 2026 — the largest tournament in the competition's history. In June 2018, the "United 2026" bid from the United States, Canada and Mexico beat Morocco to win hosting rights, with promises of record revenues and NFL-scale stadiums across 16 cities.

Updated May 10