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The man behind the World Cup and how LA fans are experiencing his decisions
Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, speaks to the media during a FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Press Conference at Mexico City Stadium.
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Who is FIFA president Gianni Infantino? We dig into his tenure and legacy
Guests: Oliver Kay, senior football writer for The Athletic and Alan Tomlinson, emeritus professor of Leisure Studies at the University of Brighton; he's also the author of the recent book What Is FIFA For? (What Is It For?) (Bristol University Press, March 31, 2026)
The World Cup has officially taken over Los Angeles, and not without controversy.
Fans have voiced frustration over ticket pricing and questions linger over whether the Iranian football team should be playing in the tournament.
Listen: Should Iran be playing at SoFi? Listeners weigh in as tentative US-Iran deal is announced
The man at the center of these decisions and how fans in Southern California are experiencing the World Cup is FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Here's why he's the most influential voice in soccer right now.
How he got elected
The election of Infantino followed one of the worst corruption scandals in sports history. In 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted more than a dozen FIFA officials and executives on charges of bribery, money laundering and wire fraud.
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Swiss authorities launched an additional investigation, which led to former FIFA President Sepp Blatter's resignation. He had held the position since 1998.
Following the corruption scandal, Congress passed a reform package, but criticism remains over lack of follow through.
Part of Infantino's success has been built on his ability to boost revenue for FIFA over the years.
Ticket pricing, human rights and other critiques
Getting in on the World Cup games here in L.A. has likely been... expensive.
And that's been one of the biggest critiques of Infantino as matches approached and FIFA announced ticket pricing would adjust based on demand. Infantino has defended the pricing method, comparing it to other major American sporting events.
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Coaches, players and fans are also split on FIFA's decision to add three-minute mandated hydration breaks to matches, according to Reuters.
Infantino has also been criticized for downplaying concerns over human rights. For example, the Guardian reported in 2021 that more than 6,500 migrant workers died in Qatar during the 10-year lead up to it hosting the World Cup in 2022.
Oliver Kay, The Athletic's senior soccer writer, said during a conversation on LAist 89.3's AirTalk that Infantino's legacy is complicated and leaves true soccer fans with questions.
" How many of these decisions are being made for the good of the game, and how many of them are being made for whichever world leaders Infantino is cozying up to at that time?" Kay said.
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