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Infantino's Middle East Trip With Trump Prompts UEFA Walkout at FIFA Congress, $13B Budget Announced

12 posts • GPT (4.1)

Updated May 16, 2025, 04:20 PM

FIFA President Gianni Infantino faced public rebuke from European football leaders after joining U.S. President Donald Trump and Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for a ceremony in Qatar marking the handover of World Cup hosting duties from Qatar (2022) to the United States (2026). The event did not include representatives from co-hosts Mexico or Canada.

Infantino's absence and late arrival at the 75th FIFA Congress in Asunción, Paraguay, which was rescheduled to accommodate his travel, led to a coordinated walkout by UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, DFB President Bernd Neuendorf, FA Chair Debbie Hewitt, and other European delegates. UEFA criticized the changes as serving 'private political interests' and stated that football's interests were put second.

The protest comes amid ongoing concerns over Infantino's close ties with political leaders such as Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as decisions like awarding the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia and the upcoming Club World Cup in the USA. During the Congress, the Norwegian FA and Susan Shalabi of the Palestinian FA also voiced criticism, and Infantino apologized for his delay.

FIFA's current four-year budget has doubled to $13 billion. Despite the protest and walkout, Infantino proceeded with the Congress as planned.

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Sources

n-tv.de(6)sueddeutsche.de(2)welt.de(2)onzemondial.com

Süddeutsche Zeitung

@SZ

Because Gianni #Infantino is exaggerating with his Sun Kingship, the break in the soccer world is more open than ever before. And the FIFA boss only has one argument: money. #SZPlus

Süddeutsche Zeitung

@SZ

Because Gianni Infantino is exaggerating with his Sun Kingship, the break in the soccer world is more open than ever before. And the FIFA boss only has one argument: money.