Donald Trump has denied speaking with FIFA President Gianni Infantino about the controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors, according to reports. The former U.S. president was asked about the proposal during a media engagement, but he gave a brief response, avoiding detailed comments (gbnews.com). The plan, which has sparked significant backlash, involves selling commercial rights to a firm linked to Trump’s family, raising concerns about conflicts of interest (mirror.co.uk).
Infantino has faced mounting pressure as the proposal has led to resignations and strong criticism from within FIFA. One of his senior advisers, Cordeiro, has quit, and the chief operating officer, Lamour, has called the plan “defies belief and imagination” (theguardian.com). The controversy has also drawn global attention, with media outlets like Al Jazeera highlighting the growing opposition to the plan (aljazeera.com).
The situation has further complicated relations between Infantino and key stakeholders, including UEFA, which has reportedly considered boycotting the World Cup if the plan proceeds. The tension has been heightened by recent meetings between Infantino and Trump, who has referred to the FIFA leader as the “King of Soccer” (winnipegfreepress.com). As the pressure mounts, the future of the World Cup’s commercial strategy remains uncertain.
