Gianni Infantino wears MAGA-style hat at Trump Board of Peace meeting amid FIFA neutrality questions

Gianni Infantino is once again facing scrutiny over his political proximity to Donald Trump. The FIFA president attended Trump’s first “Board of Peace” meeting in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, an event aimed at addressing the war in Gaza amid a fragile ceasefire agreement reached in October. Representatives from more than 45 countries were expected to attend, though several key U.S. allies declined invitations.

Before the meeting began, attendees were handed red MAGA-style hats reading “U.S.A.” in bold white letters, with “45-47” stitched on the side, a reference to Trump’s two presidencies. Infantino briefly wore the hat while appearing alongside the U.S. president. The moment quickly drew attention, given FIFA’s long-standing emphasis on political neutrality.

Infantino’s latest Trump appearance tests FIFA’s ethics code

Section 5 of FIFA’s Code of Ethics requires officials bound by the code to remain politically neutral. Infantino’s appearance and his decision to don the hat may renew debate about whether the organization’s leadership is maintaining that standard.

This is not the first time the FIFA chief has faced criticism over his ties to Trump. In December, London-based human rights nonprofit FairSquare filed an ethics complaint with FIFA alleging that Infantino had breached neutrality obligations. The group argued that the organization’s governance structure allows the president to “openly flout” internal rules.

Infantino has previously voiced strong support for Trump, publicly advocating for him to receive the Nobel Peace Prize and stating in November, “I think we should all support what he is doing.”

At the World Cup draw in December, Infantino presented Trump with FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize, a decision that sparked backlash from critics who questioned both the creation of the award and its recipient.

Infantino and Trump have maintained a visible relationship over the past year, with the FIFA president making several appearances at the White House. During Thursday’s event, Trump again thanked Infantino for awarding him the FIFA Peace Prize and revisited his long-standing grievance about not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.

“I want to thank Gianni and FIFA for all the wonderful things they did and are doing,” Trump said. “They gave me their first peace prize.”

FIFA has not publicly commented on the hat incident. With the 2026 men’s World Cup set to be hosted in North America, including the United States, Infantino’s public alignment with political figures is sure to continue to attract attention, especially as questions over governance and neutrality remain unresolved.

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