By Salma El-Sakka
Following Democratic gains in the US midterm elections, FIFA President Gianni Infantino faces heightened congressional scrutiny over his relationship with President Donald Trump. The House Judiciary Committee, now with subpoena power, has launched an inquiry into what Democrats describe as a sustained campaign by Infantino and FIFA to win favor with the Trump administration.
Committee Inquiry and Document Demands
The committee formally opened its investigation on July 26, requesting documents and testimony from Infantino. By September 23, committee Democrats said FIFA's cooperation had been "woefully inadequate." The panel seeks records on financial ties between FIFA and the Trump family, the awarding of the FIFA Peace Prize, and a proposed scheme involving Jared Kushner's brother to sell World Cup stakes.
FIFA Forward Enterprise Controversy
Two days after the inquiry began, The Times reported Infantino was pursuing a plan to sell stakes in FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to private investors led by Thrive Capital, founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. FIFA confirmed FFE would handle commercial operations for the World Cup and other tournaments. The proposal was abandoned on August 1 after rejection by three continental confederations, including UEFA, which threatened a tournament boycott and said it had "lost confidence" in Infantino.
UEFA Opposition and Term Limit Debate
UEFA pledged to field an opposing candidate for the next FIFA presidential election, though no challenger has been named with two weeks before the nomination deadline. Infantino retains strong support across Africa, Asia, Oceania, and South America. Campaign group FairSquare has urged national associations to contest his eligibility for a fourth term. FIFA statutes limit presidents to three terms, but the FIFA Council ruled in 2022 that Infantino's initial 2016-2019 period would not count, making him eligible to run again in 2027.
