Infantino’s relentless Trump-whispering has tainted football’s biggest occasion
ANDREW HARNIK/ GETTY - Repeatedly aligning Fifa with Trump has left many feeling the reputation of the game is damaged fundamentally 20 Jul 2026 The Guardian Nathán Goldberg Crenier Nathán Goldberg Crenier serves as the elected vice-president of the US Soccer Federation. This editorial represents his personal opinions and does not necessarily reflect the positions or views of US Soccer All of Fifa’s members have a duty to protect the integrity of the sport and save Fifa from itself, even at the risk of retaliation Ever since the United States won the rights to co-host the 2026 World Cup, Gianni Infantino, the Fifa president, has worked to ingratiate himself with Donald Trump at all costs, supposedly to secure preferential treatment for Fifa from the American government. Predictably, he suffered the same fate as everyone who has made a Faustian bargain with the US president: he learned that cosying up to Trump always backfires, tarnishing the entire sport along the way....