This is in light of FIFA’s permanent slogan: “There are no politics in football.”

The summit was held yesterday, Monday, under the chairmanship of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and his American counterpart, Donald Trump, and witnessed the signing of an agreement to stop the war in Gaza, after two years of conflict, in the presence of than 20 world leaders, along with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

However, the striking appearance of Infantino shaking hands with Trump amid a warm welcome was the scene that stole the spotlight and raised question marks in the sports world.

According to a Sky News report, the presence of the FIFA President at the summit was not a coincidence, as Infantino had previously participated in the signing of the Abrahamic Accords in 2020 at the invitation of Trump, which reflects the strong friendship between the two men since the latter’s presidency of the United States.

The report confirmed that Infantino’s attendance at the Sharm El-Sheikh summit comes in the context of the old personal and political relationship between him and Trump, and not in his capacity as an official representative of FIFA in a political event.

Sources suggested that Infantino’s participation may also be “an expression of mutual gratitude,” after the FIFA president recently supported Trump in his candidacy for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, as he wrote on his Instagram account: “President Donald Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for his decisive positions.”

Despite this support, the award went to Maria Machado, Venezuela’s opposition leader.

Relations between Infantino and the US administration have witnessed remarkable development in recent years, especially as the United States prepares to host the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico.

Trump also played a prominent role in supporting the organization of the 2025 Club World Cup, which America hosted with its new system with the participation of 32 teams, where Chelsea won the title and Trump himself handed the cup to the winning team.

This incident brings back the ongoing debate about the boundaries of separation between football and politics, especially in light of Infantino’s frequent attendance at events of a political nature.
At the same time, observers believe that the FIFA President seeks, through these moves, to strengthen the game’s status as a bridge for communication and peace between peoples, even in forums that seem far from the green rectangle.

Source: “RT+ Media”