With the tournament set to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June to July 2026, the political shadow cast by Trump is creating what internal sources describe as "severe concern" within the organization.
### The Controversial Bond: Infantino and Trump
The alliance between the Swiss-Italian football administrator and the American political figure reached a symbolic peak in December 2024. On the sidelines of a World Cup draw event, Donald Trump was surprisingly awarded the inaugural **FIFA Peace Prize**, a decision that immediately sparked international debate.
The controversy deepened in October 2024, when President Gianni Infantino accompanied Trump to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, for a peace conference addressing the situation in Gaza. This public appearance, seen by many as a political endorsement, raised eyebrows across the global football community and signaled Infantino's keenness to align with Trump as part of World Cup preparations.
### Internal Rebellion and "Severe Embarrassment"
According to reports from sources speaking to *Give Me Sport*, the mood inside FIFA is one of significant unease. “A large number of officials within FIFA feel severe embarrassment over Infantino’s decision to give Trump the award,” revealed a FIFA source. “They expressed concern about how it was handled at the time, and there is anxiety about hosting the next World Cup in the United States.”
The source admitted that preparations for the **2026 World Cup** are now "sensitive and difficult," both in the lead-up to and during the tournament itself. This internal friction highlights a growing desire among many FIFA officials to steer clear of politics entirely.
“Our work is about football on the pitch and nothing else,” one official stated bluntly, reflecting a sentiment that the organization must remain neutral to preserve the sport's integrity.
### Political Risks Threatening the Tournament
The political storm extends beyond internal FIFA politics. Donald Trump’s recent statements and policy threats are directly impacting the sporting landscape. A prominent German official hinted at a potential boycott, suggesting the German national team could withdraw from the **2026 World Cup finals** if President Trump follows through on threats of military intervention to annex Greenland.
Furthermore, the 79-year-old Trump has pledged to impose tariffs on European nations that oppose his Greenland ambitions, ensuring that geopolitical controversy will loom large as the tournament approaches.
### Looking Ahead: A World Cup on Shaky Ground
The **2026 FIFA World Cup**, one of the most anticipated events in global sport, is now at a critical juncture. The partnership between Infantino and Trump, intended to smooth the path for the first-ever 48-team tournament, is having the opposite effect. It has sown division within FIFA’s leadership and introduced unprecedented political risk into the event's planning.
As the clock ticks down to kickoff, the world will be watching to see if FIFA can navigate these turbulent waters and ensure the focus remains where it belongs: on the beautiful game. The coming months will be a true test of whether football’s governing body can separate the sport from the simmering political tensions that threaten to overshadow it.