Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th president of the US captured global attention, signaling a monumental shift in both American and international politics. Sitting among some of the wealthiest people on the planet was FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and his presence has raised eyebrows. In the weeks following the inauguration, Infantino has posted about Trump on Instagram more than any other world leader. Under normal circumstances, this might not seem unusual, given that the US is set to host the FIFA Club World Cup later this year and will co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico.

However, Infantino’s selective enthusiasm becomes a cause for concern when juxtaposed with his more reserved approach toward Claudia Sheinbaum—who made history last year as Mexico’s first woman president. At best, Infantino’s attendance at the inauguration is a tacky photo-op and, at worst, reflects an alignment with Trump’s political ideology. More broadly, it highlights why Infantino may be one of the most detrimental figures to modern football.

To be clear, FIFA as an institution is deeply rotted, and its leadership is a reflection of its compromised culture. Corruption has been endemic since João Havelange transformed football into a multi-billion-dollar industry, with FIFA repeatedly embroiled in scandals involving corruption, lobbying, vote-rigging, and bribery—all within a system that operates with very little oversight or accountability. Infantino is the newest cog in a long line of figures who exemplify the organization’s moral bankruptcy.

However, there are compelling reasons to believe he represents an even worse iteration of FIFA’s leadership. One of the clearest ways Infantino distinguishes himself is his consistent attachment to some of the world’s most controversial leaders—Vladimir Putin, Mohammed bin Salman, Paul Kagame, and now Trump. FIFA has a history of making deals with the devil. But under Infantino, the organization has moved beyond simply awarding tournaments to autocratic states; it has actively deepened its ties to their leadership.  Despite an ongoing genocide, an International Court of Justice ruling deeming the occupation of Palestine illegal, and an arrest warrant issued for Benjamin Netanyahu, FIFA continues to allow the participation of the Zionist state of Israel in international tournaments. This exemplifies that today, countries with appalling human rights records not only get to host but also embed themselves in the sport through influence, sponsorship, and league game partnerships.

This opens the door for FIFA to not only act against the best interests of football but also contradict its stated principles. Take its sponsorship deals with Aramco and Qatar Airways or the pervasiveness of Emirates and Etihad in the sport. These partnerships with fossil fuel-intensive companies persist despite FIFA’s supposed commitment to reducing football’s ecological footprint, amid record-breaking temperatures and worsening extreme weather patterns. 

The shift to a World Cup format with expanded fixtures and multiple host countries not only disregards efforts to cut carbon emissions but was also a calculated move to clear the path for Saudi Arabia’s uncontested bid for the 2034 World Cup. FIFA has doubled down on decisions that prioritize political alliances and financial gain over sustainability. Under Infantino, football has arguably been degraded as a product.

When tournament expansions occurred under Havelange and Blatter, the goal was to grow the game globally. However, there’s a crucial distinction between that and simply adding more matches for the sake of a quick cash grab, and Infantino has long crossed that line.

The bloating of major tournaments, from the World Cup to the UEFA Champions League, alongside the creation of the UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, and UEFA Nations League, demonstrates this. Perhaps most controversially, the expansion of the FIFA Club World Cup was pushed forward without consulting top leagues like La Liga and the Premier League, who both lambasted Infantino for the decision. 

These expansions oversaturate the football calendar, which is already grueling for professional players. Over the past five years, both players and managers have become increasingly vocal about fixture congestion and its impact on player welfare. The short breaks between regular seasons and subsequent long-term injuries to stars are becoming the new normal.

FIFPRO, the global players’ union, has even filed a legal complaint with the European Commission, accusing FIFA of “abuse of dominance.” There have been talks of potential strike action, with the threat of a walkout escalating. While the possibility of strikes isn’t new within football, if tensions reach a boiling point, the scale could be unprecedented, which would be a crisis for the sport. 

Infantino’s tenure has also been marked by a profound apathy towards women’s football, especially at a time when the sport is reaching new heights. The 2023 Women’s World Cup set a record as the most attended women’s sporting event in history, yet Infantino left just a week after the opening game. In contrast, his presence during the 2022 Qatar Men’s World Cup was impossible to miss.

Infantino also mishandled the tournament’s TV rights. After the success of the 2019 Women’s World Cup, FIFA decided to sell the women’s tournament rights separately for the first time instead of the historical practice of bundling them as a value-added extra alongside the men’s tournament. Just two months before the opening game, Infantino publicly chastised the low bids from major market broadcasters and threatened a blackout. However, the delayed negotiations were largely FIFA’s fault and could have hampered the visibility of the tournament. Infantino, in essence, lectured broadcasters about a problem his organization had created.

FIFA’s decision to grant exclusive US streaming rights for the 2027 and 2031 Women’s World Cups to Netflix, rather than traditional networks, potentially puts accessibility to the sport in a tenuous place. While streaming is growing, placing the tournament behind a paywall—especially as Netflix continues to raise prices—risks limiting viewership and hindering the sport’s growth

Lastly, Infantino’s most egregious trait compared to Havelenge and Blatter is his obsession with self-image. Much like disgraced New York City mayor Eric Adams, he operates as if he were a celebrity, seemingly bolstering his personal visibility over his actual mandate. He frequently mingles with high-profile figures and attends events with little connection to football, all while indulging in luxury and expecting to be wined and dined.

Infantino’s egotism is constantly on display. During the 2023 Women’s World Cup, he requested a police motorcade from the New Zealand government—a practice typically reserved for heads of state. He also had his name and signature engraved on the new Club World Cup trophy, a gratuitous gesture that perfectly exemplifies his inflated sense of importance.

This is far from an exhaustive list. Simply put, Infantino is a hack with no real vision for football.

There is no honor among thieves, but even his corrupt predecessors, for all their faults, played a role in elevating the sport. That is indisputable. Infantino, by contrast, represents a regression—a man whose avarice threatens the very soul of the beautiful game. That alone makes him one of the worst things to ever happen to football.