FIFA, Football, and U.S. Politics: What to Know

As preparations intensify for the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, global football’s governing body has opened a new office inside Trump Tower, signaling closer collaboration between FIFA and U.S. leadership.

The move comes amid growing U.S. involvement in international sports, with President Donald Trump confirming attendance at the 2025 Club World Cup final in New Jersey, a tournament widely seen as a dry run for next year’s global event. MetLife Stadium, the venue for the Club World Cup final, will also host the 2026 World Cup final.

Trump’s second term has seen an unusual level of presidential involvement in sports, from attending the Super Bowl to announcing D.C. as host of the 2027 NFL Draft and appearing at UFC events.

While FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed optimism that the U.S. will “welcome the world,” concerns linger over Trump’s immigration policies and the expansion of travel bans to additional countries.