Fifa has strengthened its connection with U.S. President Donald Trump, as the organization confirms the opening of a new office in Trump Tower, New York City.
The announcement was made on Monday evening after the Club World Cup trophy was displayed in the skyscraper’s lobby near Central Park. Several high-ranking Fifa officials attended the event, including president Gianni Infantino, former Brazilian star Ronaldo, and Eric Trump, the president’s son and an executive at the Trump Organization.
“Fifa is a global organization, and to be truly global, we must have a presence everywhere—including New York,” Infantino said. “This isn’t just about the Club World Cup this year or the World Cup next year; it’s about establishing our offices in key locations.” He also thanked Eric Trump and President Trump for their support.
No details were provided regarding which staff or departments will occupy the new space, making Fifa a tenant in a building owned by the current U.S. president—just a year before the start of its most significant tournament.
This move follows Fifa’s recent establishment of an office in Miami, Florida, where its legal team and some operational staff are based, overseeing preparations for the upcoming tournaments. Several employees from Fifa’s Zurich headquarters were transferred to the U.S. to support these efforts.
“On behalf of myself, New York, and the Trump Organization, we’re thrilled about Fifa’s presence here,” Eric Trump stated during the event.
The opening marks another step in Fifa’s efforts to maintain a public association with the U.S. president. Earlier this year, Infantino described his relationship with Trump as “vitally important” during a meeting with the International Football Association Board (Ifab).
Since then, the two have appeared together at multiple events, including an Oval Office meeting where Infantino announced a new World Cup task force and presented Trump with the Club World Cup trophy. The trophy remains on display in the Oval Office during official engagements. Infantino also joined Trump at the task force’s first gathering, seated alongside the president and Vice President JD Vance.
This year, Infantino traveled with Trump to the Middle East, delaying his attendance at Fifa’s congress in Paraguay. The delay frustrated some delegates, who walked out in protest. Following the incident, Uefa criticized Infantino for prioritizing “personal political interests” over Fifa duties, while Human Rights Watch called for his accountability.
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