The top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee has formally asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to appear before the committee, escalating scrutiny of FIFA’s relationship with President Donald Trump in the aftermath of this summer’s men’s World Cup.
In a letter sent Sunday night, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) asked FIFA to turn over records of anything of value given to Trump, his administration, or the Trump Organization, along with visitor logs from FIFA’s Miami and New York offices and preserved communications — including messages sent on platforms like Signal, Telegram and WhatsApp — between FIFA staff and anyone connected to the Trump administration or transition, reported The Athletic.
FIFA created a new “Peace Prize” awarded to the president, took office space in Trump Tower and relocated the World Cup draw from Las Vegas to the Kennedy Center in Washington after Trump allies took over the venue.
Scrutiny intensified during the tournament when Trump personally called Infantino to request a review of U.S. player Folarin Balogun’s suspension, which FIFA then reversed — a decision the organization maintains was made independently.
Raskin’s letter also questions the Justice Department’s decision to drop long-running corruption cases tied to international soccer, suggesting the timing raises questions about whether FIFA’s outreach to Trump influenced the outcome.
Additionally, the letter revives concerns about FIFA’s World Cup ticketing practices, which are already under investigation by attorneys general in several states over pricing that reportedly reached tens of thousands of dollars for finals tickets — far above the tournament’s original promised cap.
A White House spokesperson dismissed the inquiry, defending the administration’s role in the World Cup as a major success for the country.
Because Democrats remain in the House minority, Raskin cannot compel Infantino’s testimony. But the letter signals the kind of oversight FIFA could face if Democrats retake the chamber in November, when Raskin could gain subpoena power as committee chairman.
The pressure adds to mounting criticism of Infantino abroad, with dozens of European lawmakers and soccer bodies — including UEFA and Norway’s football federation — raising concerns about FIFA’s political neutrality following the Balogun controversy and the Trump Peace Prize.
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