FIFA President Gianni Infantino is embarking on his third World Cup, which this weekend expands across North America. His initial tournaments were hosted in autocratic nations that were eager to invest heavily and leverage the event to improve their global image.
In the United States, where 78 out of 104 matches are scheduled, he faces a unique challenge with democratically elected officials across 11 host cities.
Initially, Infantino seemed to apply the same strategy in North America as he did in Russia and Qatar: securing the support of the head of state first. He even attempted to win favor with President Donald Trump by awarding him a peace prize just as tensions with Iran escalated.
However, state and local leaders had different priorities.
In the U.S., Infantino encountered obstacles not only due to democracy but also because of the country’s federal system, which divides power between national and state governments. This structure, attributed to Thomas Jefferson, grants local leaders significant autonomy.
“I think that’s just a big difference, even compared to other western democracies, our federalism is a huge difference,” noted Alex Lasry, CEO of the New York New Jersey Host Committee.
Consequently, FIFA’s partners in Mexico and Canada have greater influence over World Cup activities in their countries compared to the limited role the White House plays in the U.S., which lacks a sports minister.
This situation has led to local officials in the U.S. challenging FIFA’s authority, despite its global stature as the governing body of the world’s most popular sport.
A senior FIFA official mentioned earlier this year that while it was an exaggeration to say commands were instantly followed in Qatar or Russia, the U.S. was indeed more decentralized.
In 2023, one of Infantino’s advisors discussed his public image, stating, “This whole idea of shoulder-rubbing with dictators? It’s not real. Sometimes the U.S. president is Joe Biden, sometimes it’s Donald Trump. Gianni can’t change that,” as told to Tim Röhn of the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network, which includes POLITICO. “He’s not interested in politics — only in football.”
Yet, these political factors have been causing complications for months, leading up to the first American match on Friday in Los Angeles.
In Massachusetts, a five-member board had to approve a license for FIFA to hold seven matches, a power it leveraged to gain concessions from the local host committee.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, who did not initially bid for the World Cup but now finds herself responsible for its expenses, clashed with FIFA over transportation costs. Although FIFA did not concede, the dispute was contentious.
When FIFA attempted to prohibit water bottles in stadiums, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani intervened, leading FIFA to reverse its decision.
Additionally, a group of attorneys general from three blue states and one from Texas are currently scrutinizing FIFA’s ticketing practices.
Unfortunately, Infantino cannot rely on a single individual to resolve these issues. As he navigates America’s complex governance, he appears to be learning the intricacies in a manner reminiscent of Alexis de Tocqueville’s observations of the U.S. system.
