Trump financial disclosure shows close FIFA, Infantino ties
U.S. President Donald Trump makes an announcement about the 2026 FIFA World Cup while U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance watches FIFA president Gianni Infantino and U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stand behind the FIFA World Cup Trophy in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington DC, U.S., August 22, 2025.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
As the U.S. men’s national soccer team heads into its first World Cup qualifying match on Wednesday night, President Donald Trump’s newly released 2025 financial disclosure puts a renewed focus on his close relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
disclosure It shows Infantino giving Trump 10 tickets worth $15,000 to the FIFA Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey last July. Trump also attended the match in which Chelsea beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 and accompanied Infantino on the field. presenting the cup.
Trump is now expected to return to MetLife Stadium on July 19 for a much larger event, Infantino said. On June 23, he announced on Fox News that Trump would help To present The winner of the final will be awarded the World Cup trophy and the president will be placed at the center of sport’s most-watched ceremony.
This comes as Infantino’s ties to Trump are the subject of new international scrutiny. Fifty members of the European Parliament He sent a letter to FIFA On Monday, the organization was called to address an issue, Politico reported. ethical complaint with Fair Square On Infantino’s decision to award Trump his first FIFA Peace Prize in December 2025. The nonprofit advocacy group focuses on global labor migration, political repression and rights issues in sports.
Lawmakers said FIFA must prove its commitment to “political neutrality, transparency and accountability” and called for the FIFA Ethics Committee to act with “the utmost speed and sincerity”.
Trump received his award during the World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, where Infantino presented him with a trophy, medal and certificate. Trump’s foreign policy efforts were praised in a FIFA video before Infantino told Trump on stage that he could do it”always count” On his support, according to the complaint.
There is no evidence that Infantino’s gift of tickets influenced any U.S. government decisions regarding the tournament.
The White House and FIFA did not respond to a request for comment.
Infantino’s tickets were part of a broader sports access model announced by Trump. His file also included 10 Super Bowl tickets worth $50,000, 10 U.S. Open tennis tickets worth $25,000 and Ryder Cup tickets worth $11,250, among other events.
Trump reported receiving nearly $120,000 in sports tickets from political allies, team owners, sponsors and sports executives during a year in which he repeatedly used major sporting events as political and cultural stages.
U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with FIFA President Gianni Infantino after receiving the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Draw at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington DC, USA) on December 5, 2025.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
Since returning to office, Trump has made sports a central part of his public image, and Infantino has repeatedly stood by him.
FIFA has opened office space at Trump Tower in New York City, placing football’s global governing body in a building tied to the president’s family business. Infantino appeared with Trump at the White House, FIFA events and World Cup draws. Trump and Infantino entered the ticket raffle the same month Trump renamed the Kennedy Center the “Trump Kennedy Center.” Later, the court decided to remove the president’s name from the art center.
They include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Several senior Trump officials attended the World Cup matches, including Transport Secretary Sean Duffy.
The White House leaned into the US team’s online run and chanted “USA! USA! USA!” and “Football!!!” on social media as the host nation progresses.
The Department of Homeland Security also used football footage. DHS sent Video of previous U.S. men’s national team matches under the text “One Nation. One Homeland. One Team.”
Mullin came under criticism after telling reporters at a World Cup security briefing on Monday that he did a “happy dance” after Iran’s elimination from the tournament and that he was happy for the Iranian team to leave US soil. news reports. Iranian football officials blame US officials mistreat the teamAccording to The Guardian, Mullin defended the administration’s visa and security decisions.
DHS did not respond to a request for comment.
For FIFA, the 2026 World Cup is the largest in the tournament’s history and will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, requiring major federal coordination around visas, security, transportation and diplomatic logistics.
