KEIR RADNEDGE COMMENTARY —- FIFA supremo Gianni Infantino has aligned himself and the world football federation even more closely with Donald Trump by signing up to a “true partnership” with United States President’s new Board of Peace.

The collaboration, unveiled during the board’s inaugural meeting on Thursday, marks an unprecedented entanglement between the world’s most high-profile and powerful sports body and a highly controversial political initiative.

Infantino has already attracted heavy criticism within the game for his fawning behaviour around Trump, always allowing for the need of a FIFA president to keep the World Cup host’s government onside.

The centrepiece of this particular partnership is a massive infrastructure project in the Gaza Strip. FIFA has pledged $75m to the Board of Peace’s reconstruction efforts, focusing on “rebuilding people through sport.”

The monies will be split thus:;

$50m: Construction of a new national stadium with a 25,000-seat capacity;

$15m: A dedicated FIFA Academy to scout and train local talent;

$10m: The development of 50 “mini-pitches” and five full-sized training grounds.

Infantino defended the investment, stating, “We don’t have to just rebuild houses or schools… we have to build hope and trust.”

Infantino was already under fire over several recent developments, notably the award of a new FIFA Peace Prize to Trump during the 2026 World Cup finals draw, a move that left many mid-level FIFA officials reportedly “deeply embarrassed.”

Many diplomats fear the Board of Peace has been created to eclipse the United Nations Security Council. FIFA’s early and vocal support provides the board with a level of global visibility and legitimacy it currently lacks from traditional Western allies such as Canada and Britain.

While Infantino has framed the involvement as purely humanitarian, the optics suggest a more complex political marriage. Trump has frequently praised “Gianni” as a phenomenal leader, while Infantino has dismissed calls for tournament boycotts – sparked by the administration’s foreign policy – as “political noise.”

FIFA’s presence as a financial and symbolic donor to the Board of Peace wipes away any pretence about a separation between politics and sport.

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