This yr, North America will host the world’s largest sporting occasion: the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which can be performed in 11 cities in the USA, three in Mexico, and two in Canada.
The World Cup is the most-watched sporting occasion on the planet, drawing extra viewers than the Tremendous Bowl and the World Collection mixed. This yr marks the primary time since 1994 that World Cup matches can be performed in the USA.
This yr’s version has additionally gotten consideration for political causes. The US function in internet hosting the event has been years within the making, and it’s intently tied to President Donald Trump and his unusually heat relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Infantino has praised Trump lavishly, presenting him with presents — together with FIFA’s Peace Prize, an entirely made-up award that the FIFA president gave to Trump final November — and has reportedly visited the White Home greater than every other world chief throughout Trump’s second time period.
Immediately, Defined co-host Astead Herndon spoke with Adam Crafton, a senior reporter at t he Athletic, who has intently lined FIFA and the rising relationship between the 2 males.
Under is an excerpt of their dialog, edited for size and readability. There’s way more within the full episode, so take heed to Immediately, Defined wherever you get podcasts, together with Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and Spotify.
How did the US, Canada, and Mexico even get these video games within the first place?
The best way it really works is nations bid, and so they bid fairly a good distance out. The method for this was round 2017. It was truly throughout Trump’s first presidency.
It’s attention-grabbing to look again on, as a result of President Trump will get the chance to take credit score for it. However truly, one of many motivating components for [the US, Canada, and Mexico] becoming a member of forces was form of this concern about whether or not America, the USA, may win a bid by itself, as a result of this was coming off the again of, should you bear in mind, the FBI’s prison investigations into FIFA and the DOJs involvement. And there was this concern about whether or not FIFA membership would truly go for it, simply an American bid. So [the US] joined forces with Canada and Mexico.
Additionally, simply this sense on the time of Trump saying some fairly disparaging issues about different elements of the world. In the course of the bidding course of, I spoke to individuals a part of that bid, and they’d be going spherical saying to individuals issues like, “Oh, you realize, Trump doesn’t actually imply what he’s saying,” or “Don’t fear, he gained’t be the president by the point this comes round.” And but, right here we’re. And Trump, I feel Trump likes it, mainly, as a result of he can declare credit score. He can say, “I used to be right here after we gained this. I introduced this, and now I’m right here to ship this.”
We’ve our two most important characters right here: President Trump and Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA. Are you able to inform me about their relationship and the way it’s shaping the World Cup?
Their relationship was born out of the bid. Infantino form of obtained himself into the Oval Workplace a few instances; that was the way it began. However what truly occurred was, whereas lots of people clearly turned on Trump in direction of the top of his first presidency and definitely after January 6, Infantino didn’t. There was no level the place Infantino publicly distanced himself from Trump. He stayed shut. He went to Mar-a-Lago. He maintained that relationship. And I feel Trump, no matter individuals consider him, he’s clearly somebody who remembers those that are loyal to him.
When Trump was then out of workplace, FIFA discovered it actually troublesome to penetrate the White Home. There was no image with Joe Biden within the Oval Workplace. There was no go to to the Oval Workplace for Infantino throughout that point. Then, when Trump wins energy in November 2024, Infantino is instantly on the entrance foot — I imply, on Instagram each different day, praising Trump. He went to his pre-inauguration rally. And Trump would hold name-checking him at these occasions. It was fairly odd for these of us who’ve adopted Infantino as a job, form of this soccer bureaucrat, to abruptly see him mainly being on first identify phrases with the US president.
Infantino’s been within the Oval Workplace greater than any international state chief, for instance. That’s extraordinary.
Wait, say that once more? He’s been within the Oval Workplace greater than every other international state chief, every other form of dignitary?
Yeah, I imply, should you consider, a minimum of, in public appearances, the place you see these form of joint Oval Workplace affairs, just like the one which, for instance, Mamdani had with Trump within the Oval Workplace. There’s been a number of of these with Trump and Infantino.
Are you able to clarify the FIFA Peace Prize?
So, on the FIFA World Cup draw, at the beginning of December, Donald Trump was introduced with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize.
FIFA has by no means had a Peace Prize. No one has ever requested FIFA to do a peace prize, so far as we all know. And the background of that is earlier, in Autumn 2025, there was a form of unofficial marketing campaign popping out of the White Home to counsel that President Trump must be profitable the Nobel Peace Prize. And really, the day earlier than the Nobel Peace Prize was introduced, Infantino goes out on Instagram and truly says President Trump deserves it.
I imply, there’s no cause for the president of FIFA to be making these declarations about who deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. Why is Infantino going out on a limb on this approach?
There’s a number of theories on this. The primary is, simply: Infantino loves it, proper? He loves being round wealthy, highly effective individuals — sees himself as this type of head of state for soccer.
The second view is there’s a pragmatic want for FIFA to go above and beyondd. And perhaps they only suppose, “That is what we have to do to ensure we get what we’d like.” And there are issues that FIFA wants. So, the host cities, the 11 host cities within the states, have wanted $625 million price of federal safety funding for the event.
Not too long ago, and amid all of the immigration insurance policies which were happening, FIFA secured what has been known as a “FIFA cross,” which implies that, when you have purchased a ticket for the World Cup, you’re going to get an appointment wherever you’re on the earth by a visa interview in your nation inside six to eight weeks.
There are these concessions that FIFA have gotten, however on the similar time, you now have 4 nations — Haiti, Iran, Senegal, Ivory Coast — whose nations have journey bans, which imply their followers can’t journey to the event.
So, there’s some wins and there’s some losses, however I feel FIFA are cautious [that], sooner or later, somebody within the White Home would possibly flip round, take a look at FIFA and say, “Grasp on. They’re a form of a world group that get tax breaks from America, that get all this income from placing on a event on our soil, and we’re not getting a minimize of the ticket income, of the parking income, of the printed, the sponsorship. Why are we serving to these guys a lot?” Does a Peace Prize go some approach to simply ensuring that’s at all times on [Trump’s] desk and reminding him FIFA’s nice?
