FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended the governing body’s decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia while also defending his relationship with Donald Trump.
Saudi Arabia was handed the right to host the 2034 World Cup at a FIFA Congress in December 2024 despite concerns about its human rights record, the risks to migrant labourers, and the criminalisation of same-sex relationships.
The process followed by FIFA was also criticised by the Norwegian Football Federation, but speaking in Belfast, Infantino said: “There was a Congress decision, uniting the entire world.
“I think it was a very positive step for football, bringing, in eight years, football from all over the world, hosting everyone.
Read Also: 2034 World Cup: Saudi Arabia relaxes LGBTQ laws to woo fans
“We have to be bringing everyone to the table. We will go to North America in 2026, then to South America, Africa, and Europe in 2030, and back to Asia for 2034.
“The FIFA Congress approved that. It was done after an in-depth report on all this.”
Infantino also faced questions on Friday about his relationship with former United States President Donald Trump and his family.
Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, was involved in the FIFA Club World Cup draw in December, with Infantino attending Trump’s inauguration in January.
When asked why he was so close to the polarising former President, Infantino said:
“I think it is absolutely crucial for the success of a World Cup to have a close relationship with the president.
“We are organising a Club World Cup this year, the first-ever FIFA Club World Cup with 32 teams, in the United States of America.
“We’re also organising a World Cup next year in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. And let’s not forget that when the bidding happened for that World Cup, President Trump was already president of the United States.”
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