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Gianni Infantino

FIFA President Gianni Infantino shakes hands with Basim Sheikh Suliman (left), vice president of the Israeli Football Association, as Jibril Rajoub (right), president of the Palestine Football Association, leaves the stage at the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada on April 30, 2026. (Reuters/Jennifer Gauthier)
May 1, 2026, 8:22 am
Palestinian soccer chief refuses to shake hands with Israel federation VP at FIFA event
Jibril Rajoub accuses FIFA president of failing to understand ‘deep suffering’ of Palestinian people after Infantino urged the two to ‘give hope to the children’; Israel’s rep had said, ‘We are proud of their squads and our squads’
By Reuters and ToI Staff
FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaking during the 2026 Semafor World Economy conference in Washington, DC, on April 15, 2026. (Kent Nishimura/AFP)
April 16, 2026, 11:09 am
FIFA head says Iran will ‘for sure’ participate in soccer World Cup in US
‘Iran has to come, they represent their people,’ Gianni Infantino says, while Trump has previously suggested Iranian players might not be safe on American soil
By AFP and ToI Staff
FIFA President Gianni Infantino holds up a USA hat as he attends the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace at the Institute of Peace on February 19, 2026 in Washington. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/AFP)
February 21, 2026, 8:44 pm
FIFA chief’s Board of Peace appearance doesn’t breach political neutrality rules — IOC
Gianni Infantino, who has repeatedly met with Trump, is working on soccer-based ‘sport recovery investment program in Gaza’ that keeps with Olympic mission, says Games’ global body
By Karolos Grohmann
US President Donald Trump, left, is presented with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize by FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, December 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
December 5, 2025, 10:03 pm
FIFA chief awards ally Trump the body’s inaugural peace prize after Nobel miss
At 2026 World Cup draw, Gianni Infantino gives president ‘beautiful medal,’ gold trophy and certificate hailing work to ‘promote peace and unity around the world’
By Seung Min Kim
US President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino pose for a photo in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, October 13, 2025. (Suzanne Plunkett, Pool Photo via AP)
November 5, 2025, 8:11 pm
FIFA announces new peace prize to be awarded at December’s World Cup soccer draw in DC
Award’s announcement doesn’t name its recipients, but comes as US President Donald Trump, who has a close relationship with FiFA’s chief, was passed over for the Nobel Peace Prize
By AP and ToI Staff
Displaced Palestinians walk past destroyed buildings as they return to their homes in the in al-Zahra area, north of the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, on October 14, 2025. (Eyad BABA / AFP)
October 14, 2025, 11:33 pm
Egypt says Israel and Hamas approved Palestinian team tapped to govern postwar Gaza
15 Palestinian technocrats will ‘take care of daily life’ in Gaza, declares Egyptian FM, as UN official says a number of countries have pledged billions needed for reconstruction
By Agencies
The Israeli team poses prior to the Group D soccer match between Israel and Japan, at the La Beaujoire stadium, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, July 30, 2024, in Nantes, France. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez)
October 2, 2025, 8:29 pm
FIFA’s Infantino takes no action against Israel, urges soccer to promote peace
Amid push for Israeli national team to be kicked out of competitions, head of international soccer body says it ‘cannot solve geopolitical problems’
By AP
Celtic fans lift a protest banner about Israel during the UEFA Champions League playoff first leg soccer match between Glasgow Celtic and Bayern Munich at the Celtic Park Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland on February 12, 2025. (AP/Scott Heppell)
September 25, 2025, 7:17 pm
UEFA heading to a vote next week on booting Israel from European soccer
Clear majority of governing body’s executive members said to be in favor of move; would ban Israeli club and national teams from competing in any international competitions
By AP and ToI Staff
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa (L) and Saudi Arabia's Minister of Sports and Youth Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Faisal al-Saud celebrate after Saudi Arabia was confirmed as host of the 2034 World Cup during a ceremony in the capital Riyadh on December 11, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
December 11, 2024, 9:49 pm
Saudi Arabia to host 2034 soccer World Cup as human rights groups cry foul
Amnesty statement co-signed by several groups warns migrant workers will be exploited; separate group’s statement says laborers already working 10-hour shifts in extreme heat
By Agencies
Motorists commute past a poster for the Indonesia 2023 FIFA Under-20 World Cup football tournament in Jakarta on March 30, 2023 (BAY ISMOYO / AFP)
April 18, 2023, 10:33 am
Argentina to host U20 World Cup after Indonesia loses rights amid Israel protests
FIFA announces soccer tournament will be held in South American nation after pulling it from Indonesia, which saw public and political opposition to Israel’s participation
By Agencies and ToI Staff
Fans watch fireworks after the World Cup inauguration match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Corniche sea promenade in Doha, Qatar, November 20, 2022. (AP/Francisco Seco)
March 13, 2023, 10:35 am
Qatar spied on top Swiss prosecutor probing FIFA for corruption — report
Operation dubbed ‘Project Matterhorn’ allegedly aimed to get content for possible pressure against Michael Lauber amid fears in Doha that it would be stripped of hosting World Cup
By AFP
FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during a press conference at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC) in Doha on November 19, 2022, ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP)
November 19, 2022, 12:07 pm
‘I feel gay, disabled, a woman’: FIFA chief issues tirade at Qatar World Cup critics
In bizarre diatribe on eve of opening match, Infantino blasts ‘hypocrisy’ of Westerners who denounce Gulf state, says Europe should apologize for actions over ‘past 3,000 years’
By Graham Dunbar
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, left, and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani shake hands before the 2022 soccer World Cup draw at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center in Doha, Qatar, April 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
October 25, 2022, 12:50 pm
Qatar emir decries ‘unprecedented’ campaign against country hosting soccer World Cup
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani says his Gulf state had been targeted by ‘fabrication and double standards’; controversial tournament set to kick off November 20
By AFP
Russian President Vladimir Putin touches the World Cup trophy as FIFA President Gianni Infantino stands beside him, at the end of the final match between France and Croatia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, on July 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)
February 28, 2022, 10:03 pm
Russia suspended from international soccer four years after hosting World Cup
FIFA president says soccer should be ‘a vector for unity and peace amongst people’; Russian Football Union calls decision ‘discriminatory’
By AFP
(L to R) FIFA President Gianni Infantino, former US secretary of the treasury Steve Mnuchin, and former US ambassador to Israel David Friedman attend the launch of the "Friedman Center for Peace through Strength" at the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem on October 11, 2021. (Photo by Menahem KAHANA / AFP)
October 12, 2021, 3:26 am
FIFA chief says Abraham Accords could lead to Israel co-hosting soccer World Cup
Making first official visit to Israel, Gianni Infantino attends opening of ex-US ambassador’s peace center, angering Palestinians, who reportedly cancel meeting with him
By ToI Staff and Lazar Berman
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