FIFA and its member associations will benefit significantly financially from the 2026 World Cup. Politically, US President Donald Trump in particular is capitalizing on this. Human rights organizations warn about the current conditions in the USA.
Many stars are coming to the draw for the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in Canada and Mexico, but especially in the USA. The White House in Washington D.C confirmed on Tuesday (December 2nd, 2025) that in addition to Heidi Klum, Nicole Scherzinger or Robbie Williams US President Donald Trump will also be at the event on Friday. One item on the program made it clear that Trump’s presence would be a crucial part of the event: FIFA hired the band “Village People” for an appearance and announced that this would be at the end of the draw “their legendary and world-famous hit ‘YMCA’“ will play.
“YMCA” is the anthem of the Trump supporters, the so-called movement “Make America great again” (MAGA). At events, Trump often performs a dance to it. The Village People’s appearance at the World Cup draw is another symbol of how much FIFA is trying to flatter its host – and how Trump has changed the USA.
Donald Trump dancing to “YMCA”
Infantino on Trump: “He says what others think”
“YMCA” was once an anthem for the homosexual subculture. The song will now be performed at the draw Kennedy Center in Washington. This used to be a non-partisan cultural institution in the USA. However, Trump became chairman of the Kennedy Center in his second term and promptly criticized that LGBTQ-Contents are part of the program. He announced that in the future he would determine what could and could not be performed in the Kennedy Center. Lucky for FIFA: The World Cup draw is one of the permitted contents.
FIFA, which has always claimed a zero-tolerance stance against discrimination, and its president Gianni Infantino forged a close relationship with Trump in recent months. “I’m really lucky”said Infantino during one of his recent visits to Trump, who constantly swayed him “Johnny” calls. “I have a great relationship with President Trump, who I see as a close friend. Of course he has been a big help in everything we do for the World Cup.”
During several appearances in the White House, he always found flattering words, placed sparkling trophies in the head of state’s office and also defended Trump’s political style. “He has incredible energy, and I admire that very much. He gets involved. He keeps his promises. He says what he thinks. He actually says what many others think but perhaps don’t dare to say.”said Infantino.
US President Donald Trump with FIFA President Gianni Infantino
Infantino becomes an actor in world politics
FIFA has enshrined political neutrality in its statutes. However, Infantino recently lacked this neutrality. He has long since become a political figure. A good relationship with the head of state of a host country seems sensible for a FIFA president – but Infantino has become a regular companion of Trump. State visits with Trump to Saudi Arabia and Qatar in the spring of 2025 resulted in Infantino being massively late at the FIFA Congress in Paraguay and leaving hundreds of delegates waiting for hours, causing great discontent.
The relationship between the two is becoming increasingly closer: at the Club World Cup in the USA in the summer of 2025, Infantino gave the US President a winner’s medal after the final, like the one the players receive. He had previously tried in vain to greet Trump at the FC’s award ceremony Chelsea to get him off the stage. Like many other autocratic politicians, Trump has long since discovered the football stage, while Infantino uses the political stage.
US President Donald Trump with the Chelsea FC team
When Trump called a summit in Egypt to seal the ceasefire in Gaza, Infantino was the only person without a comparable role among world leaders such as Trump, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and France’s President Emmanuel MacronBritain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer or UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
Human rights organizations sound the alarm
“There is no political neutrality in these times”said Jamal R Watkins from the Black Civil Rights Movement NAACP at a media event on Wednesday. He rejects the US policy of enforcing immigration regulations. “It literally tears families apart and demonizes immigrants.” If FIFA comes to the USA, makes billions of dollars and then does not ensure compliance with certain values, “then it becomes very political”said Watkins. “Then they support a policy that is wrong. If FIFA turns a blind eye to this, it is taking a political side.”
The human rights organization Human Rights Watch published a report about an asylum seeker from the USA who wanted to go to the Club World Cup final with his children. “A soccer-loving father planned a special day with his children at a FIFA tournament, only to be jailed for three months and then deported to a country where he says his life is in danger.”said Minky Worden by Human Rights Watch. This is not an isolated case and is also to be feared at the 2026 World Cup.
Thanks to Trump and the USA – FIFA Record revenues
FIFA is making economic capital out of the tournament. Trump is enabling FIFA to host a tournament in what is currently the most attractive market in football. The world association is expecting more money than ever before at the 2026 World Cup. “The 2026 budget will reach new highs in connection with the World Cup”says FIFA’s current budget. In the World Cup year it expects revenue of almost nine billion US dollars – for the 2022 World Cup it was just over six billion US dollars.
Delegates of the national associations at the FIFA Congress
The member associations of FIFA, including the DFB, benefit from this money. The money will go to the national associations through a FIFA distribution program; the shares will be higher than ever, which also applies to the associations’ satisfaction with Infantino, who will be up for re-election in 2027 – if he wants it.
FIFA Peace Prize – the next flattery?
The World Cup will be played for the 23rd time in 2026, and another FIFA trophy will be awarded for the first time in the draw on December 5th. Infantino announced the FIFA Peace Prize “Football unites the world” after Donald Trump did not receive the Nobel Peace Prize. The prize should go to people “who have taken extraordinary and extraordinary measures for peace”said FIFA. With regard to the ceasefire initiated by the USA in the Gaza war, Infantino made it clear who, in his view, should be rewarded. “Trump definitely deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for his decisive actions”Infantino wrote on Instagram.
FIFA has not yet confirmed who will receive its new Peace Prize on December 5th. It did not publish a list of nominees, a list of jurors or the rules and criteria for awarding the prize. FIFA announced that the prize would be awarded annually in the future “on behalf of all football fans – more than five billion people”. FIFA launched the award on November 5, the same day Infantino and Trump both appeared at an event Miami on.
Trump accused democratically governed cities – including World Cup hosts – of unsubstantiated security deficiencies, deployed the military there against the will of the city administrations and threatened to withdraw the hosting role for these cities. In the presence of Infantino, Trump recently threatened military strikes against World Cup co-host Mexico in the White House.
Nevertheless, Trump is now the most promising candidate for the “Football Unites the World” award. Meanwhile, there is an entry ban in the USA against all citizens of two World Cup participants, Iran and Haiti. Exceptions are made for athletes and coaches at tournaments such as the World Cup.