FIFA’s relationship with the US president, Donald Trump, now has a physically tangible marker, with the soccer’s world governing body announcing it has opened an office in Trump Tower in New York City.
The announcement of the new office came after FIFA placed the Club World Cup (CWC) trophy on display in the lobby of the skyscraper in an event attended by several dignitaries including FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the Brazilian great Ronaldo as well as Eric Trump, the son of the US president and executive vice-president of the Trump Organization.
“FIFA is a global organisation and to be global you have to be local, you have to be everywhere, so we have to be in New York,” Infantino said. “Not just for the FIFA Club World Cup this year and the FIFA World Cup next year – we have to be in New York as well when it comes to where our offices are based. Thank you, Eric Trump, thank you to everyone. Thanks, of course, to president Trump as well.”
FIFA did not provide specifics on which staff or departments would be housed in New York. It is now a tenant of the company owned by the sitting US president with the start of its biggest and most lucrative tournament next June.
It follows FIFA’s opening in 2024 of an office in Miami, Florida, which houses the organization’s legal division and some staff responsible for putting on the Club World Cup and next year’s World Cup. Some staff from FIFA’s global headquarters in Zurich were relocated to the US to work in Miami.
“On behalf of myself, on behalf of New York, on behalf of the Trump Organization and everybody that works in this building – we love you,” Eric Trump said in remarks at the event. “We’re honoured, we’re excited about all the things that FIFA is doing.”
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has confirmed his attendance at Sunday’s FIFA Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, underscoring growing ties between his administration and world football’s governing body.
Sunday’s final will be held at the same venue slated to host the 2026 World Cup final.
Trump, who earlier this year became the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl, is chairing a White House task force dedicated to overseeing preparations for both FIFA tournaments.
However, Trump’s presence in international sports continues to spark debate due to his controversial immigration policies. His administration reportedly considers expanding the travel ban to 36 additional countries, raising concerns about fan accessibility for upcoming global tournaments.
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