Cairo (Egypt): FIFA President Gianni Infantino stood beside US President Donald Trump on Monday in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on the summit for peace in Gaza, drawing shock from observers who had anticipated solely political leaders and high-ranking diplomats on the Purple Sea resort.
Cameras caught the 2 collectively, including to their latest string of public appearances throughout the US president’s second time period. So, why was the FIFA president on the summit?
Infantino defined that Trump personally invited him. “FIFA is right here to assist, to help and to place ourselves at disposal for no matter we are able to do to guarantee that this peace course of involves fruition and to the absolute best finish,” he mentioned.
He has grown more and more vocal on the Israel-Gaza battle. Final week, he urged soccer to help peace within the Center East forward of World Cup qualifiers involving Israel, as pro-Palestinian demonstrations had been deliberate in Norway and Italy.
Following Friday’s Israel-Hamas ceasefire, Infantino praised the US-brokered deal, singling out Trump for a possible Nobel Peace Prize.
“The function of President Trump has been completely basic and essential within the course of. With out President Trump, there can be no peace,” he mentioned.
Infantino’s Position At Sharm el-Sheikh
On the summit, Infantino positioned soccer as a power for hope. He pledged FIFA’s help in rebuilding Gaza’s soccer infrastructure as a part of post-war restoration.
“Soccer’s function must be to help, must be to unite, must be to provide hope within the area. In Gaza, in Palestine, we are going to, after all, assist to rebuild all of the soccer amenities. We’ll assist to carry soccer again, along with the Palestinian Soccer Affiliation, in each nook of the nation. We’ll carry (footballs), we are going to construct pitches, we are going to carry instructors, we are going to assist organise competitions, we are going to launch a fund to assist rebuild soccer infrastructure in Palestine,” he mentioned.
He added that the FIFA would offer mini-pitches and “FIFA arenas” whereas inviting different companions to hitch the hassle. “Soccer brings hope to youngsters, and it is rather, essential,” he added.
The Infantino-Trump Connection
Infantino first met Trump on the White Home in 2018, after the USA was awarded co-hosting rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Their public appearances have continued, together with a shared stage on the 2020 World Financial Discussion board in Davos, Switzerland, the place Infantino reportedly referred to as Trump “my nice buddy”.
The 2 remained in touch after the US president left workplace in 2021. Throughout Trump’s second presidency, coinciding with the June FIFA Membership World Cup in the USA, Infantino was seen repeatedly together with Trump. On August 22, Infantino was filmed within the Oval Workplace presenting Trump with a gold duplicate World Cup trophy.
In late 2024, the FIFA president moved to Trump’s hometown of Miami to remain near North American World Cup actions, guaranteeing easy accessibility for future joint appearances.