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FIFA has strengthened its ties with US President Donald Trump by opening an office in Trump Tower in New York.
The move comes a year before the World Cup, which will be held across North America — and a year after FIFA opened an office in Miami.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Tuesday thanked Donald Trump, whom he described as "a big football fan", as well as the president's son, Eric, for their "great support".
Eric Trump joined Infantino and Brazilian football legend Ronaldo as they announced that the Club World Cup trophy would be on display at Trump Tower until the competition's final at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
Infantino has visited the White House and the president's Florida base, Mar-a-Lago, on several occasions this year as he seeks to build a relationship that will allow the 2026 World Cup to be a success, untainted by Trump's controversial policies.
But ties between FIFA and the US government have drawn criticism. In May, a leading human rights organization said it had "serious concerns" about the Trump administration's border policies affecting the tournament.
A nationwide crackdown on immigration has sparked fears that some fans risk not being able to travel freely to watch World Cup matches.
Human Rights Watch urged Infantino to be "prepared to reconsider the decision to host the tournament" if the safety of fans and players cannot be guaranteed, according to a letter to POLITICO in May.
However, Infantino has dismissed concerns that the Trump administration's tough border policies would cause chaos at the tournament.
Andrew Giuliani, who heads a task force on World Cup preparations for the White House, told POLITICO last month that "the greatest World Cup in history will be both safe and welcoming."
Trump appears to be embracing his role in bringing the World Cup to the U.S. In the spring, when the White House issued an order restricting travel from 19 countries, Trump included a specific exemption for international athletes, coaches and support staff participating in the World Cup, the Olympics and other high-profile sporting events./"Politico " , adapted in Albanian Pamphlet
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