Trump denies speaking with Infantino about FIFA’s commercial World Cup plans

US President Donald Trump has denied speaking with FIFA president Gianni Infantino about the football governing body’s commercial World Cup plans, according to Dutch outlet Voetbal International.

Trump was asked at the White House whether he had discussed the plans with Infantino, who is Swiss. Trump said there was no such conversation, VI reported. The denial lands as Infantino faces intensifying scrutiny over the commercial direction of FIFA’s World Cup programme.

Trump denies any conversation on World Cup plans

The question put to Trump concerned whether the American president had spoken with Infantino about the commercial plans FIFA has announced around the World Cup. According to Voetbal International, Trump dismissed the suggestion outright, stating that there was no question of any such discussion.

VI framed the exchange as part of a wider wave of pressure on Infantino. The FIFA president has been in the spotlight since announcing the plans, which the Dutch outlet describes as commercial in nature without detailing them in its short video report.

The denial does not address whether other members of the Trump administration or US officials have held talks with FIFA representatives. VI’s account also does not specify who asked the question, in what setting the exchange took place, or whether Trump offered any further comment on FIFA’s plans.

Infantino under growing pressure

Voetbal International says Infantino is “increasingly under fire” (“ligt steeds meer onder vuur”) over his announced plans. The outlet’s report, published as a video on July 31, 2026, frames the White House exchange as the latest sign of tension around FIFA’s commercial strategy.

The timing is significant. The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, has just concluded, and commercial planning for that tournament and future editions has become a sensitive topic for FIFA. Host governments, broadcasters and national federations are all watching how the governing body monetises the event after a tournament played largely on American soil.

The VI report does not specify which plans have drawn criticism, what the objections are, or which parties in the US or elsewhere have voiced concerns. The brief account should not be read as a complete picture of the controversy.

Why the White House angle matters

The US hosting role makes any White House contact with FIFA commercially and politically sensitive. A confirmed conversation between Trump and Infantino about World Cup commercial plans could signal White House involvement in FIFA’s revenue decisions, from broadcast rights to sponsorship structures tied to the tournament.

Trump’s denial, if it holds, suggests no such coordination at the presidential level. It does not rule out contact between FIFA and US government agencies, or between Infantino’s staff and White House officials. For football followers, the distinction matters: FIFA’s commercial choices affect ticket pricing, broadcast access and how World Cup revenues are distributed to federations.

What remains unclear

The VI report is short and leaves several basic questions open:

• What exactly do Infantino’s commercial World Cup plans involve?
• When and where was Trump asked about Infantino, and by whom?
• Did the White House or FIFA issue any response beyond Trump’s denial?
• Are US government officials, beyond the president, in contact with FIFA about the plans?
• Does the denial relate to a specific meeting, a call, or any contact at all?

The video report does not appear to include a full transcript, so the exact wording of Trump’s answer is not available from the source. Readers should treat the denial as reported rather than as a verbatim record.

Facts at a glance

What to check next

Fans and federation watchers should look for FIFA’s own statements on the commercial plans and for any White House press briefing transcript covering the exchange. If Infantino addresses the reports in a public appearance, his version of events, whether he confirms or denies any approach to the White House, will be the next test of the story.

For now, the confirmed facts are narrow: a Dutch football outlet reports that Trump denied a conversation with Infantino about commercial World Cup plans, and that Infantino is under pressure over those plans. Everything else, including the content of the plans, the circumstances of the question and any follow-up, remains unverified. Treat the denial as one side of an exchange that has not yet been fully documented.

Source: https://www.vi.nl/video/trump-ontkent-met-infantino-gesproken-te-hebben-over-commerciele-wk-plannen