FIFA President Gianni Infantino has traveled to Saudi Arabia this week, joining former U.S. President Donald Trump on a high-profile trip to the Middle East. According to a report from City A.M., the visit includes stops in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the respective hosts of the 2034 and 2022 World Cups.
Infantino’s travel plans mean he will not attend some key FIFA meetings in Paraguay in person. One meeting originally scheduled for today was reportedly moved forward to last Friday to accommodate his absence. He is, however, expected to arrive in time to chair the FIFA Council meeting on Thursday, just before the start of the organization’s annual congress.
The nature of any joint appearances between Infantino and Trump has not been confirmed. A FIFA spokesperson noted that the president “has accepted invitations to attend a series of important events with world leaders, where FIFA World Cups will also be discussed.”
The trip follows recent public appearances by the two figures, including one in which they addressed questions around Russia’s exclusion from the 2026 World Cup—co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Infantino addressed the matter by saying:
“They are banned for the time being from playing but we hope that something happens and peace will happen so that Russia can be readmitted.”
Trump responded by calling the potential reinstatement of Russia a “good incentive” for ending ongoing conflict.
Infantino has maintained visible relationships with global leaders such as Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Russian President Vladimir Putin—who awarded him a State Medal after the 2018 World Cup. The current visit reinforces FIFA’s ongoing engagement with major host nations as international preparations continue for future tournaments.
Article updated 5 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
