Why was FIFA President Infantino with Trump at Gaza peace summit in Egypt?

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EXPLAINER

FIFA brag Gianni Infantino was among attendees successful Egypt, continuing a drawstring of appearances with the US president Donald Trump.

Published On 14 Oct 2025

FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s information successful Summit for Peace held successful Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt connected Monday whitethorn person been a astonishment to those who were expecting lone satellite leaders, presidents and high-ranking officials to beryllium successful attendance astatine the Red Sea edifice town.

Infantino was photographed adjacent to the co-chair of the event, United States President Donald Trump, successful the latest associated quality by the brace during the 2nd Trump presidency.

Why was FIFA president astatine the Egypt Peace summit?

Infantino stated that Trump had invited him to the Summit for Peace and that “FIFA is present to help, to assistance and to enactment ourselves astatine disposal for immoderate we tin bash to marque definite that this bid process comes to fruition and to the champion imaginable end.”

His invitation followed the FIFA president becoming much vocal connected the Israel-Gaza struggle successful caller days.

Last week, helium called for shot to enactment efforts towards bid successful the Middle East successful the lead-up to 2 World Cup qualifiers that progressive Israel, aft pro-Palestinian demonstrations were planned astatine stadiums successful Norway and Italy.

After Friday’s Israel-Hamas ceasefire announcement, Infantino praised the US-brokered program and singled retired Trump to beryllium awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.

“The relation of President Trump has been perfectly cardinal and important successful the process. Without President Trump, determination would beryllium nary peace,” helium said.

What relation did Infantino play astatine the Summit for Peace?

In Sharm el Sheikh, the FIFA president stressed football’s important relation successful creating caller anticipation successful the Middle East region.

Infantino pledged the governing body’s enactment to rebuild shot infrastructure successful Gaza arsenic portion of wider post-war reconstruction efforts pursuing Monday’s bid summit.

“Football’s relation has to beryllium to support, has to beryllium to unite, has to beryllium to springiness anticipation successful the region. In Gaza, successful Palestine, we will, of course, assistance to rebuild each the shot facilities. We volition assistance to bring shot backmost – unneurotic with the Palestinian Football Association – successful each country of the country. We volition bring (footballs), we volition physique pitches, we volition bring instructors, we volition assistance organise competitions, we volition motorboat a money to assistance rebuild shot infrastructure successful Palestine,” helium announced.

Infantino added that FIFA would lend with mini-pitches and “FIFA arenas” and invitation different partners to articulation the effort, saying “football brings anticipation to children, and it’s very, precise important.”

Donald Trump listens arsenic Gianni Infantino speaks.

What is the narration betwixt Infantino and Trump?

Trump archetypal met Infantino astatine the White House successful 2018, during his archetypal statesmanlike term, aft the US was awarded the co-hosting rights to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

They person appeared astatine summits unneurotic before; successful 2020, they shared the signifier astatine the World Economic Forum successful Davos, Switzerland. It was during this acme that Infantino archetypal called Trump “my large friend”, according to reporting by The Washington Post.

The brace remained successful interaction erstwhile Trump near bureau successful aboriginal 2021, but since the 2nd Trump presidency, which coincided with June’s FIFA Club World Cup staged successful the US, Infantino has been seen repeatedly with the US president.

Most recently, connected August 22, Infantino was filmed wrong the Oval Office aft helium talented a golden replica World Cup trophy to Trump.

In precocious 2024, Infantino relocated to Trump’s hometown successful Miami owed to his North American-based World Cup commitments, ensuring the 2 friends person casual entree for immoderate associated nationalist appearances successful the future.