FIFA Chief Infantino's Frequent TV Appearances Draw Criticism
FIFA President Gianni Infantino's constant appearances during 2026 World Cup broadcasts are drawing criticism, with former England players questioning why his face dominates television coverage of matches across North America.
Football observers are questioning whether FIFA President Gianni Infantino needs to appear so frequently in 2026 World Cup broadcasts. Infantino has been traveling across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and according to BBC reporting, during the group stage he attended up to two matches daily—often hundreds of miles apart—requiring up to three flights on some days.
Former England internationals Joe Cole and Gary Lineker recently discussed this on their podcast The Rest is Football, questioning why fans must see Infantino's face so often. Cole said: "The overall FIFA presentation disappointed me, but once Gary told me about Infantino, I started noticing it. Now I can't unsee it. In every game, both halves, the broadcast must show Infantino's head on screen. You're the federation president, but this looks like a power-mad person who wants to be in the spotlight constantly."
Lineker added: "Just watch the first 10 minutes of the first half and the first 10 minutes of the second half. You'll definitely see a cut to Gianni Infantino."
Cole replied: "Now that you mention it, it frustrates me greatly because I don't understand why they do it. I played a friendly match with him five years ago in Dubai. Nobody dared tackle Infantino—everyone was too intimidated. I even considered hitting him hard, but my sense of respect held me back. In hindsight, I wish I hadn't been so respectful."
Infantino faced significant criticism over his decision to change American player Florian Balogun's red card suspension from an immediate one-match ban to a one-year ban. President Donald Trump later admitted he called FIFA to request the review.
