Infantino’s Global World Cup Tour

Gianni Infantino has embarked on an extensive tour for the 2026 World Cup, traveling 39,005 miles in the first three weeks of the tournament, as reported by ESPN. His journey began on June 11 in Mexico City, where he attended the opening match between Mexico and South Africa. He then moved to Guadalajara for South Korea’s 2-1 win over Czechia and traveled to Los Angeles to watch the U.S. team’s opening match against Paraguay. On June 13. He attended a match between Qatar and Switzerland in San Francisco, where he highlighted the attendance figures amid criticism over low turnouts.

According to the same source, Infantino made brief appearances at multiple matches, often commending the host cities and fans, though he also met with singer Justin Bieber at the U.S. team’s opening match in Los Angeles.

Ethics Complaints and Political Scrutiny

Infantino’s relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump has drawn international attention, particularly after he awarded Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize in December 2025, according to CNBC. This gesture has led to criticism. With 50 members of the European Parliament urging FIFA to address an ethics complaint from FairSquare, a nonprofit advocacy group focused on rights issues in global labor migration and political repression. The lawmakers called for an investigation into the prize’s awarding and emphasized the need for FIFA to demonstrate political neutrality, transparency, and accountability, as reported by DIE ZEIT and Politico.

FairSquare welcomed the European Parliament’s support, calling it a “significant political intervention” in the investigation into FIFA’s conduct. However, according to ZDFheute, the FIFA Ethics Committee has not provided updates on the status of the complaint and is not required to inform FairSquare of progress. Barry Andrews. A European Parliament member. Stated that if Infantino “preferred one president over another, it would harm the reputation of FIFA and the entire tournament.”.

Broader Scandals and Tournament Preparation

While Infantino and Trump have focused on promoting the World Cup, other controversies have emerged — In Germany, authorities conducted a nationwide search operation linked to the 2024 European Championship, according to ZDFheute. Ermittlers investigated allegations of corruption involving the distribution of football tickets at preferential rates. The investigation included searches at city administrations and the DFB headquarters in Frankfurt. The Euro 2024 GmbH, a joint venture between UEFA and the German Football Association, was also implicated in the probe.

Ticket pricing and distribution remain contentious issues ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with high prices drawing criticism from fans and media. Infantino has announced that Trump will join him at the final on July 20 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to present the trophy, as reported by the 경향신문. However, Trump did not attend the opening match in Los Angeles, raising questions about his involvement in the tournament.

The FIFA president has consistently emphasized unity and collaboration, stating during a Fox News interview that “we are always together” with Trump. Nonetheless, the Trump administration has faced persistent criticism throughout the World Cup, according to 경향신문. The tournament continues to be marked by both sporting achievements and political tensions.