The International Olympic Committee has cleared FIFA president Gianni Infantino of breaching political neutrality rules following his attendance at U.S. President Donald Trump's inaugural Board of Peace meeting. Infantino announced a partnership aimed at developing football infrastructure in Gaza during the event. The decision comes amid criticisms from former FIFA president Sepp Blatter over the organization's ties to Trump and the 2026 World Cup format.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino attended the inaugural Board of Peace meeting in Washington D.C. on Thursday, hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump. The event focused on reconstruction plans for Gaza, where Infantino was photographed wearing a red 'USA' cap with '45-47' on the side, referencing Trump's presidencies. During the meeting, FIFA announced a partnership with the Board of Peace to invest in football infrastructure in Gaza, including a new 20,000-seater national stadium to be contracted within three years. Trump stated that FIFA would raise $75 million for projects in Gaza, though FIFA's press release did not specify funding sources or mention consultation with the Palestine Football Association.
The IOC, of which Infantino is a member, investigated the appearance for potential breaches of its charter, which requires members to act independently of political interests. IOC president Kirsty Coventry initially expressed concern during a Winter Olympics press conference, noting the charter's clarity on such matters. However, an IOC spokesperson stated on Sunday that after review, Infantino's actions were deemed "entirely in keeping with the role of an International Sport Federation," citing FIFA's support for sport recovery in Gaza through infrastructure, education, and development, similar to IOC's Olympic Solidarity programs.
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter criticized the Trump-Infantino relationship in a Radio Canada interview released Saturday, saying it "changed the game for the World Cup" and turned football into politics. Blatter, 89, also slammed the 2026 tournament's format, where the U.S. hosts 78 of 104 matches, calling it unfair and not in the spirit of developing football. He noted U.S. visa restrictions affecting qualified nations like Senegal, Ivory Coast, Iran, and Haiti.
Separately, on February 16, Palestinian footballers and groups referred Infantino and UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin to the International Criminal Court, accusing them of aiding war crimes by allowing Israeli clubs from West Bank settlements to compete. The 120-page filing alleges normalization of illegal settlements, contravening FIFA statutes and international law. FIFA declined to comment on Blatter's remarks.