Trump's FIFA pal in trouble as plan to sell off World Cup collapses

Key Points:

• The 2026 FIFA World Cup, won by Spain over Argentina, was commercially successful and well-attended despite concerns about the political climate under Donald Trump’s "America First" policies.
• FIFA President Gianni Infantino faces a major backlash for his attempts to "Americanize" soccer, including raising ticket prices, introducing commercial breaks, and staging a Super Bowl-style halftime show, which many fans and federations opposed.
• Infantino’s controversial plan to spin off World Cup commercial rights into a for-profit company and sell shares to an investment group led by Joshua Kushner, related to Trump’s family, was quickly rejected by UEFA and other federations, leading to the proposal’s collapse.
• The rejection of Infantino’s plan highlights deep divisions within global soccer governance, with powerful European federations opposing the move and African federations perceived as his supporters, reflecting broader geopolitical and economic inequalities.
• Infantino’s strategy relied on promising significant financial benefits to less affluent federations, particularly in the Global South, but his close ties to Trump and perceived commercialization of the sport have damaged his standing and put his re-election as FIFA president in serious jeopardy.