Jump to content

Gianni Infantino

Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gianni Infantino
Infantino in 2026
9th President of FIFA
Incumbent
Assumed office
26 February 2016
Vice PresidentÁngel María Villar
David Chung
Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa
Preceded bySepp Blatter
Issa Hayatou (acting)
Personal details
BornGiovanni Vincenzo Infantino
(1970-03-23) 23 March 1970 (age 56)[1]
Brig, Valais, Switzerland
Citizenship
  • Switzerland
  • Italy
  • Lebanon
SpouseLeena Al Ashqar
Children4
EducationUniversity of Fribourg
Awards
List of awards
Signature

Giovanni Vincenzo "Gianni" Infantino[a] (born 23 March 1970) is a Swiss football administrator who has served as the president of FIFA since 2016.[2][3] He was previously Secretary General of UEFA from 2009 to 2016, where he formalized the body's financial regulations and oversaw tournament expansion, such as the UEFA Nations League. He has been an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member since 2020.[4][5]

As president of FIFA, Infantino has overseen three World Cups: the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and the 2026 World Cup in North America. He re-launched the FIFA Club World Cup in 2022 to incorporate 32 clubs and introduced the FIFA Series in 2024 to supplement international friendlies. His tenure has seen a significant commercial expansion, technological development and growth in international football. Infantino's career has generated controversy over his leadership directives, financial contracts and public statements at both UEFA and FIFA.

Early life and education

Infantino was born on 23 March 1970 in Brig, Switzerland.[6][3] He is a son of immigrant parents from the Italian regions of Calabria and Lombardy.[7][3] He studied law at the University of Fribourg.[8]

Career

Infantino began his management career as the Secretary General of the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) at the University of Neuchâtel during the late-1990s to 2000.[3]

UEFA

Infantino started working with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) in August 2000 and was appointed as the Director of UEFA's Legal Affairs and Club Licensing Division in January 2004. He became Deputy General Secretary of UEFA in 2007 and Secretary General of UEFA in October 2009.[3][9] During his time there, UEFA introduced Financial Fair Play and improved commercial support to smaller national associations.[9]

Infantino oversaw the expansion of UEFA Euro 2016 to 24 teams[10] and played a role in the conception of the UEFA Nations League and the UEFA Euro 2020, which was intended to take place in 13 European nations before the number was reduced to 11.[11]

In 2015, the Greek government decided to introduce a new sports law in response to the recent scandal and acts of violence and corruption, mainly in Greek football. Infantino, as UEFA's general secretary, led the negotiations with the Greek government and supported the Hellenic Football Federation's warning to Greece that it faced suspension from international football for government interference.[12][13]

FIFA Presidency

Infantino was elected FIFA president after the 2016 FIFA Extraordinary Congress.

Alongside his career at UEFA, Infantino was a member of FIFA's Reform Committee.[14] On 26 October 2015, he received the backing of the UEFA Executive Committee to stand for the position of president in the 2016 FIFA Extraordinary Congress. On the same day, he confirmed his candidacy and submitted the required declarations of support.[15] He promised to expand the FIFA World Cup to forty teams.[16]

On 26 February 2016, he was elected FIFA President for a period of three years.[17] Infantino, who holds dual Swiss and Italian citizenship through his parents, became the first Italian to hold the Presidency of FIFA. Shortly after his election in 2016, Infantino was named in documents released as part of the Panama Papers leak. The documents indicated that, while a senior legal official at UEFA, he had co-signed a television-rights contract with a company subsequently linked to defendants in the United States investigation into FIFA corruption, a relationship UEFA had previously denied. Infantino said that he was "dismayed" by the reports and stated that he had never personally dealt with the indicted parties.[18]

Infantino with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the 68th FIFA Congress, 13 June 2018

In July 2016, the investigatory chamber of FIFA's ethics committee opened an examination into whether Infantino had breached the FIFA Code of Ethics.[19][20] The chamber concluded that no violation had occurred.[20][19] Infantino was the subject of a prolonged affair in Switzerland concerning undisclosed meetings he held with the Attorney General of Switzerland, Michael Lauber, and the Valais prosecutor Rinaldo Arnold in 2016 and 2017, while Lauber's office was investigating corruption in international football.[21]

On 10 January 2017, the FIFA Council unanimously approved the expansion, with the 48-team format introduced at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[22] Later that year, Infantino criticised the United States' travel ban on several Muslim-majority nations. He said, "When it comes to FIFA competitions, any team, including the supporters and officials of that team, who qualify for a World Cup need to have access to the country, otherwise there is no World Cup. That is obvious."[23]

He was re-elected as FIFA President during the 69th FIFA Congress on 5 June 2019 as the only candidate. In July 2019, Infantino proposed an expansion of the FIFA Women's World Cup from 24 to 32 teams, starting with the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, and doubling the tournament's prize money following the success of the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women's World Cups, which after increasing from 16 to 24 teams set an attendance record for all non World Cup FIFA competitions. On 31 July, the FIFA Council unanimously decided to expand the tournament to 32 teams, featuring eight groups of four to mirror the World Cup format.[24][25][26]

In Iran, after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, women were banned from stadiums when men's teams were playing.[27] Infantino repeatedly warned the Iranian Football Federation and Islamic Republic of Iran authorities about Iranian women's rights.[28] On 8 September 2019, Sahar Khodayari self-immolated after being arrested for trying to enter a stadium.[29] Weeks later, Infantino stated:

Our position is clear and firm. Women have to be allowed into football stadiums in Iran. Now is the moment to change things.[30]

Following the announcement of the European Super League, Infantino condemned the proposal during an address at the 2021 UEFA Congress in Montreux, Switzerland. Referring to both the breakaway competition and the participating clubs' intention to remain in their domestic leagues, he stated: "If some elect to go their own way then they must live with the consequences of their choice, they are responsible for their choice. Concretely this means, either you are in, or you are out. You cannot be half in and half out. This has to be absolutely clear."[31]

In 2022, Infantino overhauled FIFA's Club World Cup, expanding it from a seven-team annual event to a quadrennial, 32-team tournament with a $1 billion prize pool and a new trophy on which Infantino's name is engraved twice, describing him as the competition's "founding president."[32]

On 5 March 2025 during a FIFA Council meeting, Infantino stated that the FIFA Women's World Cup would be expanded to 48 teams. On 8 May 2025, the FIFA Council unanimously approved expanding the FIFA Women's World Cup to 48 teams starting with the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup, mirroring the exact structure of expansion for the FIFA World Cup to 48 teams. Infantino emphasized that the expansion would help more FIFA members develop their women's programs as a result of tournament participation.[33]

During the European Football Clubs general assembly on 9 October 2025, Infantino reportedly told the delegates to "keep an open mind" about scheduling the FIFA World Cup, which has traditionally been held during European summer during June to August, to winter months stating that limiting the tournament's scheduling would prevent the globalisation of football as the current scheduling is too hot to play in some countries.[34]

Infantino with US President Donald Trump in 2019

In November 2025, Infantino introduced the FIFA Peace Prize, with U.S. President Donald Trump receiving the inaugural award in Washington, D.C. in December 2025.[35][36] The award and its recipient drew criticism, given that Trump had "aggressively campaigned for and carped about" not being awarded that year's Nobel Peace Prize.[37]

In June 2026, the former UEFA president Michel Platini filed a criminal complaint in France against FIFA and Infantino, alleging that Infantino had orchestrated a campaign of false accusation and influence-peddling to prevent Platini from succeeding Sepp Blatter as FIFA president.[38]

Governance and finances

Under Infantino, FIFA's revenues have more than doubled; for the 2027–2030 cycle the organisation is projected to generate $14 billion, of which $2.7 billion, or about 20 percent, is to be redistributed to national associations through the "FIFA Forward" development programme.[32]

The number of FIFA competitions has grown from two (the men's World Cup and the Olympic football tournament) to twenty under Infantino, and its committees have increased from seven to thirty-five.[32] From 2016 to 2026, Infantino quadrupled grants to member associations.[39]

In 2026, in an effort to raise $4.2 billion in development grants, Infantino proposed plans to sell a minority stake of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), an event management company, to private investors.[40] The Times reported that Infantino could become FFE's commissioner after his FIFA presidency ends in 2031, with compensation potentially comparable to the reported annual salary of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, estimated at around $64 million.[41] Infantino's proposal was ultimately discontinued after opposition and boycott threats from multiple football associations.[42][43][44]

2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia

In 2019 Infantino accepted the Order of Friendship medal given to him by Vladimir Putin, following the 2018 FIFA World Cup.[45][46] He described the 2018 FIFA World Cup as the "best World Cup ever", despite the controversial host selection of Russia with regards to the 2015 FIFA corruption case, Russo-Ukrainian war, and treatment of LGBTQ individuals and racial minorities.[45][47][48]

2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar

When questioned about abuses suffered by migrant workers involved in preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Infantino said that migrant workers were given work and pay and were proud to contribute to constructing the stadiums.[49] Infantino also charged Western countries with "hypocrisy" for criticising Qatar on moral grounds in relation to issues regarding human rights related to migrant workers, LGBTQ individuals, and women.[50] In an hour-long monologue, he told reporters: "What we Europeans have been doing for the last 3,000 years, we should be apologizing for the next 3,000 years before starting to give moral lessons."[51]

2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States

Infantino with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and football manager Carlo Ancelotti in 2026.

Infantino has faced criticism for his extensive use of a private jet provided by Qatar during the tournament, emitting an estimated 300–500 metric tons (300–490 long tons; 330–550 short tons) of carbon dioxide.[52][53][54]

In July 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump called Infantino and asked FIFA to review the red card issued to United States forward Folarin Balogun during the match between United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina.[55] FIFA subsequently suspended Balogun's automatic one-match ban for a one-year probationary period, allowing him to play in the round of 16 against Belgium. The decision drew criticism from the UEFA, the Royal Belgian Football Association and several international coaches.[56] Infantino denied there was political interference, stating the disciplinary committee was fully independent.[57][58]

Following the World Cup, reports stated that Trump was considering Infantino as his preferred candidate for the position of United Nations Secretary-General.[59][60][61]

2030 FIFA World Cup in Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay

In the lead up to the announcement of the 2030 FIFA World Cup hosts of Spain, Portugal, Morocco as well as the centennial hosts of Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay on 4 October 2023, Infantino had reportedly selected the hosts to be one single bid for 2030 in order to favor Saudi Arabia's 2034 bid by reducing competition. In addition, Infantino had unexpectedly sped up the bid process to effectively ensure that the two bids for 2030 and 2034 would effectively be single bids for each.[62]

In July 2026, Infantino supported discussions over expanding the FIFA World Cup to 64 teams, arguing that smaller nations should have more opportunities to participate. The proposal was later backed by CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez, who called for a 64-team 2030 FIFA World Cup as part of the tournament's centenary celebrations.[63]

2034 FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia

Infantino with Saudi ruler Mohammed bin Salman and Donald Trump in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 13 May 2025

On 31 October 2023, Infantino announced that Saudi Arabia would host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.[64] Infantino has a documented relationship with the Saudi regime.[65] Infantino had urged the AFC to fully support and unite around the Saudi bid, discouraging other AFC members from submitting their own bids.[66] The process was criticised by human-rights organisations and figures within football, and commentators noted that it coincided with Saudi-linked financing of Infantino's expanded Club World Cup.[67][19]

2026 FIFA crisis

Management style

According to The New Yorker, former colleagues have described Infantino as maintaining tight personal control over FIFA; one former council member said "he decides everything by himself."[32] Infantino's Instagram account, with 4.2 million followers and a restricted comments section, functions as FIFA's principal public-messaging channel.[32] He has described FIFA as "the official happiness provider to humanity".[32] In a 887-word statement in 2026, Infantino criticized sports journalism in world football calling critics of his FIFA tenure "hypocritical" and counter-productive.[68][69]

Personal life

Infantino is married to Leena Al Ashqar from Lebanon; the couple have four children.[6]

Since October 2021, he has spent time in Doha, Qatar, where he rents a house and where two of his children attend school.[70] He moved his official residency to Zug, Switzerland in June 2022.[71]

On 25 November 2025, Infantino began the process of obtaining Lebanese citizenship, following a meeting with the president of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, and the Lebanese Football Association president, Hachem Haidar.[72] He became a Lebanese citizen on 16 February 2026.[73]

Infantino speaks French, German and Italian as mother tongues and also speaks Arabic, English, Portuguese and Spanish.[6]

Awards

Honours

Distinctions

References

  1. ↑ Italian pronunciation: [dʒoˈvanni vinˈtʃɛntso ˈdʒanni iɱfanˈtiːno]ⓘ
  1. ↑ Anon (2020). "Gianni Infantino". fifa.com. FIFA. Archived from the original on 21 September 2020.
  2. ↑ "Who We Are – News – Gianni Infantino is re-elected as FIFA President until 2023". FIFA. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Gianni Infantino". UEFA. 8 January 2010. Archived from the original on 16 January 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  4. ↑ "IOC Session elects three new Members". International Olympic Committee. 10 January 2020. Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  5. ↑ "Infantino joins IOC as member to end FIFA's five-year absence". reuters.
  6. 1 2 3 "The President – Gianni Infantino". FIFA. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  7. ↑ "Infantino, l'avvocato di origini calabresi che tifava Inter" (in Italian). sportmediaset.it. 26 February 2016. Archived from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  8. ↑ "Everything you need to know about Gianni Infantino, the new Fifa president". The Guardian. 26 February 2016. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  9. 1 2 "UEFA Executive Committee supports UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino for FIFA presidency". UEFA. 26 October 2015. Archived from the original on 7 February 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  10. ↑ Borden, Sam (24 February 2016). "In FIFA Pitch, Gianni Infantino Pushes Expansion and Continuity". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  11. ↑ "Thirteen cities to host UEFA EURO 2020". UEFA. 25 January 2013. Archived from the original on 4 June 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  12. ↑ "UEFA & FIFA warn Greece over government's planned new football laws |thetoc.gr". The TOC In English. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  13. ↑ Nicholson, Paul. "Exclusive: Infantino fires second warning shot to Greece over football law proposal – Inside World Football". insideworldfootball.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  14. ↑ "FIFA Committees – 2016 FIFA Reform Committee – FIFA.com". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  15. ↑ "Statement from UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino". UEFA. 26 October 2015. Archived from the original on 7 June 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  16. ↑ "Gianni Infantino to expand World Cup to 40 teams if elected Fifa president". The Guardian. Associated Press. 10 November 2015. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 30 December 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  17. ↑ "Gianni Infantino elected FIFA President". FIFA.com. 26 February 2016. Archived from the original on 27 February 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  18. ↑ "What were Gianni Infantino's goals and what controversies has he faced as FIFA president?". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on 13 July 2026. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  19. 1 2 3 "Reformer or ringleader: A decade on, what is Infantino's legacy as FIFA president?". ESPN. June 2026. Archived from the original on 9 June 2026. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  20. 1 2 "Infantino's FIFA: Ten years of power, politics, and so-called ethics". Play the Game. 7 May 2026. Archived from the original on 9 July 2026. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  21. ↑ "Parliament denies under-fire Swiss Attorney General immunity". SWI swissinfo.ch. Archived from the original on 9 July 2026. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  22. ↑ "Unanimous decision expands FIFA World Cup™ to 48 teams from 2026". FIFA. 10 January 2017. Archived from the original on 13 November 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  23. ↑ "Donald Trump travel ban could prevent USA from hosting 2026 World Cup". The Independent. 9 March 2017. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  24. ↑ "FIFA President Infantino hails France 2019, outlines proposals for future of women's game". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 5 July 2019. Archived from the original on 5 July 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  25. ↑ "Key figures from the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 7 July 2015. Archived from the original on 25 August 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  26. ↑ "FIFA Council unanimously approves expanded 32-team field for FIFA Women's World Cup". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 31 July 2019. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  27. ↑ Johnstone, Lindsey (11 October 2019). "Watch: Iranian women attend first football match in 40 years". euronews. Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  28. ↑ "هشدار دوباره فیفا به ایران: به زنان باید اجازه حضور در ورزشگاه داده شود". euronews (in Persian). 19 September 2019. Archived from the original on 14 April 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  29. ↑ "Fifa 'assured' Iranian women will be able to attend football matches". BBC News. 22 September 2019. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  30. ↑ Johnstone, Lindsey (19 September 2019). "Watch: FIFA tells Iran women must be allowed into stadiums". euronews. Archived from the original on 14 November 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  31. ↑ Panja, Tariq (20 April 2021). "FIFA Tells Super League Clubs: 'You Are In or You Are Out'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  32. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Knight, Sam (8 June 2026). "The World Cup According to Gianni Infantino". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on 14 July 2026. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  33. ↑ "FIFA Council confirms Women's World Cup expansion". FIFA. 9 May 2025. Archived from the original on 20 July 2026. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  34. ↑ Ames, Nick (9 October 2025). "Gianni Infantino keeping 'open mind' about moving World Cups from summer". The Guardian.
  35. ↑ Kilpatrick, Dan (5 November 2025). "Gianni Infantino to award FIFA's inaugural peace prize at Washington's World Cup 2026 draw". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 5 November 2025. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  36. ↑ Graham, Bryan Armen; Beaumont, Peter (5 December 2025). "Trump awarded inaugural Fifa peace prize at World Cup draw in Washington". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  37. ↑ Graham, Bryan Armen (5 November 2025). "Trump ally Infantino to award first Fifa peace prize at World Cup draw in DC". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  38. ↑ "Gianni Infantino named in criminal complaint on eve of World Cup". The New Republic. June 2026. Archived from the original on 24 June 2026. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  39. ↑ Slater, Matt (16 July 2026). "What football really thinks of Gianni Infantino (and why he is more powerful than ever)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  40. ↑ Slater, Matt (28 July 2026). "FIFA plans to sell a stake in the World Cup: How much for and why is Gianni Infantino doing it?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 30 July 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  41. ↑ Ziegler, Martyn (28 July 2026). "Gianni Infantino's plan to sell stakes in the World Cup". The Times.
  42. ↑ "Regional confederations left blindsided by FIFA's $20 billion investment plan". Reuters. 29 July 2026.
  43. ↑ Feringa, Megan; Horncastle, James; Crafton, Adam; Burrows, Tom (30 July 2026). "Gianni Infantino's future FIFA leadership questioned during UEFA, Concacaf meetings". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
  44. ↑ Hughes, Matt; Ames, Nick (29 July 2026). "Uefa calls emergency meeting as opposition to Fifa plan hardens". The Guardian.
  45. 1 2 "WATCH: Vladimir Putin gives FIFA president Gianni Infantino a medal after World Cup praise". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  46. ↑ Smith, Rory (25 February 2022). "Soccer, Russia and a Line Drawn Too Late". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  47. ↑ "Sepp Blatter: Russia will host 2018 World Cup despite Crimea". BBC Sport. 21 March 2014. Archived from the original on 28 April 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  48. ↑ Alabaster, Olivia (14 June 2018). "Peter Tatchell detained in Moscow over LGBT+ protest". The Independent. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  49. ↑ "Infantino on Qatar: Migrant workers get pride from hard work". AP NEWS. 2 May 2022. Archived from the original on 5 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  50. ↑ Mulvenney, Nick (19 November 2022). "FIFA chief accuses critics of Qatar of hypocrisy ahead of World Cup". Reuters. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  51. ↑ Church, Ben (19 November 2022). "Explosive tirade from FIFA boss threatens to overshadow World Cup opener". CNN. Archived from the original on 26 March 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  52. ↑ "FIFA draws criticism as Infantino clocks up air miles". Dawn. Agence France-Presse. 22 June 2026. Archived from the original on 20 July 2026. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  53. ↑ Smith, Brooklyn (26 June 2026). "Infantino's World Cup dash on a private jet sparks climate backlash over 500 tons of CO2". Yahoo Sports. Archived from the original on 19 July 2026. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  54. ↑ Hughes, Matt (16 June 2026). "Infantino using private jet in attempt to watch two World Cup matches per day". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  55. ↑ "FIFA makes U-turn to clear Balogun for US-Belgium World Cup clash following call from Trump". CNA. Archived from the original on 5 July 2026. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  56. ↑ Blum, Ronald; L. Price, Michelle (5 July 2026). "FIFA lifts US star striker Balogun's red card suspension at World Cup after Trump calls Infantino". AP News. Archived from the original on 11 July 2026. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  57. ↑ Johnson, Dale (6 July 2026). "World Cup 2026: Is Balogun the scandal that could bring down Infantino?". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 7 July 2026. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  58. ↑ "FIFA's Infantino targeted by complaint to Olympic ethics body after Trump lobbying on Balogun ban". www.pbs.org. Archived from the original on 9 July 2026. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  59. ↑ "Trump's pick for UN chief? Gianni Infantino, reportedly". euronews. 22 July 2026. Archived from the original on 25 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  60. ↑ "Exclusive | Trump wants to nominate FIFA boss Gianni Infantino for UN secretary-general following World Cup". 21 July 2026. Archived from the original on 26 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  61. ↑ "Trump pitches FIFA boss Infantino for UN secretary-general after World Cup: report". The Independent. 22 July 2026. Archived from the original on 25 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  62. ↑ Panja, Tariq (15 November 2023). "Inside Man: How FIFA Guided the World Cup to Saudi Arabia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 17 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  63. ↑ Ryan, Hannah (21 July 2026). "CONMEBOL president says the next World Cup will have 64 teams". ESPN. Archived from the original on 22 July 2026. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  64. ↑ Panja, Tariq (4 October 2023). "FIFA Will Host 2030 World Cup on Three Continents". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  65. ↑ Panja, Tariq (15 November 2023). "Inside Man: How FIFA Guided the World Cup to Saudi Arabia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 17 November 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  66. ↑ "AFC voices support for Saudi Arabia 2034 World Cup bid as Indonesia pull out". www.insidethegames.biz. 19 October 2023. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  67. ↑ "Inside the $9 billion World Cup: How Gianni Infantino built a FIFA-dom with a tight grip on soccer's biggest global event". Fortune. 4 June 2026. Archived from the original on 27 June 2026. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  68. ↑ Miller, Nick (28 July 2026). "Gianni Infantino's post-World Cup 'spreading hate' essay: A fact-check". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 28 July 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  69. ↑ Nakrani, Sachin (27 July 2026). "Fifa president Gianni Infantino accuses critics of spreading hate at World Cup". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  70. ↑ "FIFA President Gianni Infantino moves to Qatar". Swissinfo. 17 January 2022. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  71. ↑ "Infantino ist nach Zug gezogen – und spart damit ordentlich Steuern". Stern (in German). 28 November 2022. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  72. ↑ "Aoun grants FIFA President Gianni Infantino Lebanese citizenship". L'Orient Today. 25 November 2025. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  73. ↑ "رسميًا... إنفانتينو ينال الجنسية اللبنانية". The LFA (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 11 April 2026. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  74. ↑ "Gianni Infantino recibe la medalla "Cóndor de Los Andes" y afirma sentirse "como en su casa"" [Gianni Infantino receives the "Condor of the Andes" medal and states he feels "at home"] (in Spanish). Agencia de Noticias Fides. 30 March 2016. Archived from the original on 14 July 2026. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  75. ↑ Torres, Kenneth (18 July 2022). "Aunque Gianni Infantino votó contra Colombia para Mundial Femenino, Duque le entregó Orden de Boyacá" [Although Gianni Infantino voted against Colombia for the Women's World Cup, Duque awarded him the Order of Boyacá]. Blu Radio (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 14 July 2026. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  76. ↑ "Football: visite du président de la Fifa Gianni Infantino à Brazzaville" [Football: FIFA President Gianni Infantino's visit to Brazzaville]. Radio France Internationale (in French). 30 November 2019. Archived from the original on 2 October 2025. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  77. ↑ Afifa, Laila (10 November 2023). "Jokowi Confers Honorary Title to FIFA President Gianni Infantino". Tempo. Archived from the original on 3 September 2025. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  78. ↑ "Presidentja: Nder i veçantë që sot, në emër të popullit të Kosovës, ta nderoj me Medalje Presidenciale të Meritave Presidentin e FIFA-s, Gianni Infantino" [President: It is a special honor that today, on behalf of the people of Kosovo, I honor the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, with the Presidential Medal of Merit] (in Albanian). President of Kosovo. 8 October 2025. Archived from the original on 14 December 2025. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  79. ↑ "FIFA President receives Mongolia's prestigious Friendship Medal". inside.fifa.com.
  80. ↑ Idrissa, Abdoul-Razak (28 February 2017). "Infantino à Niamey avant de conclure sa tournée africaine" [Infantino in Niamey before concluding his African tour]. VOA Afrique (in French). Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  81. ↑ "WATCH: Vladimir Putin gives FIFA president Gianni Infantino a medal after World Cup praise". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  82. ↑ "President of Uzbekistan emphasizes the importance of expanding partnership with FIFA". president.uz. Archived from the original on 27 September 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  83. ↑ ""Honoured and humbled": FIFA President receives Diamond of Asia at AFC Annual Awards". Archived from the original on 16 May 2025. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  84. ↑ "FIFA President receives Bolivia Football Association's Grand Gold Medal of Merit". FIFA. 21 October 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
  85. ↑ "FIFA President tells CONMEBOL Ordinary Congress "protecting football's values" is crucial". FIFA. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
  86. ↑ "Collari d'oro del Coni, premiati gli sportivi italiani vincenti" [CONI golden collars, winning Italian sportsmen awarded]. Giornale di Sicilia (in Italian). 19 December 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
  87. ↑ "FIFA President Infantino was awarded the Golden Order of the National Olympic Committee of Kyrgyzstan". Turkmenportal. 5 May 2023. Archived from the original on 14 July 2026. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
  • Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to Gianni Infantino at Wikimedia Commons
  • Biography on FIFA website
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gianni_Infantino&oldid=1367258732"