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Gianni Infantino

Gianni Infantino

President of Fédération Internationale de Football Association

Appears in 2 stories

Born: 1970 (age 55 years), Brig, Switzerland
Spouse: Leena Al Ashqar
Children: Alessia Infantino, Sabrina Infantino, Dhalia Nora Infantino, and more
Education: University of Fribourg
Parents: Maria Minolfi and Vincenzo Infantino

Stories

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

Rule Changes

FIFA President - 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, setting in motion the largest tournament in the competition’s history and a radical shift in its format and economics. In June 2018 the “United 2026” bid from the United States, Canada and Mexico beat Morocco to win hosting rights, promising record revenues and leveraging NFL-scale stadiums across 16 cities. On 5–6 December 2025, FIFA completed the Washington, D.C. draw and released the full 104‑match schedule: Mexico will open at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium on June 11, 2026, defending champion Argentina will start against Algeria, the U.S. will open group play against Paraguay, and the final is set for 3 p.m. EDT on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to deliver prime-time viewing in Europe.

Updated Feb 5

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

Rule Changes

President, FIFA - 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, a judge threw those convictions out, an appeals court revived them in July 2025—and now the government is telling the Supreme Court it wants the whole case dismissed in “the interests of justice.”

Updated Dec 11, 2025