FIFA President Gianni Infantino needs to do a better job, European Commissioner Glenn Micallef told POLITICO in a sharp rebuke of world football’s governing body.
The EU’s sports commissioner jabbed Infantino over safety and security fears for fans heading to the World Cup this summer while America wages war on Iran, and criticized FIFA for its partnership with U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace.
During an interview at his office in Brussels, Micallef also urged leaders not to let Russia use sports as a propaganda tool and discussed his concerns surrounding the NBA’s bid to create a European basketball league. But FIFA was evidently preying on his mind.
Micallef met Infantino in Brussels last month and urged the world football chief to help safeguard European fans traveling to North America for the 2026 World Cup. The commissioner told POLITICO there had been no further communication from FIFA, despite the EU reiterating concerns about the safety of supporters, as the Trump-backed war in the Middle East escalates.
“This was my first proper and only exchange with President Infantino,” Micallef said about their Brussels chat, which took place on the sidelines of a European football summit. “I asked him to assure those traveling for the World Cup in respect to their safety. There hasn’t been any kind of follow-up.
“And following the escalation of tensions that we’ve seen in the last few days, we’ve asked again for renewed assurance for all those traveling to the World Cup,” Micallef said. “Especially since one of the hosts of this biggest sporting event in the world is party to a war, it’s only legitimate that assurances are given from a public safety and public security point of view.”
Board of Peace criticism
The U.S., Canada and Mexico will jointly host the 48-team tournament, which begins on June 11 in Mexico City and will feature 16 European countries.
In addition to fears about security in the U.S. because of conflict in the Middle East, there is also concern about the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers as part of World Cup security. Earlier this year, ICE agents shot and killed two American citizens during an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.
Mexico has also been experiencing a wave of violence following the death of a cartel boss in Jalisco state. Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco, is to host four World Cup games.
“From my point of view, hosts of big sporting events like the FIFA World Cup and those who are responsible for the organization of the tournament, including FIFA, have a responsibility to ensure that the teams participating and the fans who are attending from those teams are assured of their safety and their security,” Micallef said.
In response, a FIFA spokesperson said safety and security is the governing body’s “top priority” and it “is confident that the efforts being made by the governments of Canada, Mexico and the United States will ensure a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for everyone involved.”
Asked if he felt FIFA was falling short on safety and security provisions, Micallef replied: “Let’s say there’s room for more clarity,” before he moved on to a further bugbear with FIFA’s diplomatic positioning.
The Trump-backed Board of Peace for Gaza has triggered fears around Europe that the White House is moving to systematically sideline the United Nations. FIFA, with Infantino in attendance at a summit last month — shortly before the U.S. and Israel began a barrage of missile strikes against Iran — pledged $75 million for football infrastructure in Gaza.
“FIFA has a lot to answer on this,” Micallef said, preferring partnerships with multilateral organizations like UNESCO and UNICEF for sports projects. A FIFA spokesperson dismissed the criticism, saying the partnership aligns with its mandate to develop football and its social impact.
Asked about FIFA President Gianni Infantino, IOC President Kirsty Coventry, and IPC President Andrew Parsons, Micallef said, “There’s certainly room for improvement,” while FIFA highlighted Infantino’s achievements in development and women’s football.
The NBA’s plan to launch a European competition also drew scrutiny. Central to European sport is promotion and relegation, but the NBA’s proposal foresees mostly permanent clubs. “Closed leagues are not sustainable for European sport,” Micallef said, though he welcomed dialogue to resolve differences with the Euroleague.
On Russia, Micallef stressed that sport must not serve as propaganda for aggressor states. Russian athletes recently competed at the Paralympics under their flag, but Micallef insisted that participation by countries at war raises legitimate public safety concerns. He called for exchanges with the IOC and European Olympic Committees to ensure competitions are conducted safely and without political interference. “Sport should never be used as a platform for political propaganda by those responsible for wars of aggression,” he added.
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