Infantino’s Plane Grounded Amid Legal Battle

By the Editorial Team · Monday, August 31, 2026

FIFA President Gianni Infantino was forced to cancel his appearance at a high-profile Milken Institute event after his private jet, reportedly funded by Qatar, remained grounded amid ongoing investigations into his controversial World Cup commercial rights sales. This disruption highlights increasing legal scrutiny and reputational challenges that threaten Infantino’s leadership and raise broader concerns about transparency and governance in international football.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino faced unexpected disruption to his travel plans last weekend amid ongoing legal and reputational challenges related to the World Cup commercial rights sale. Infantino had been scheduled to attend the Milken Institute event in the Hamptons, New York, on Friday evening, where he was expected to meet with U.S. senators and prominent investors. However, his private jet, reportedly funded by Qatar, remained grounded in Doha, where he maintains a residence, leading to the cancellation of his appearance.

The decision came shortly after UEFA filed legal documents in multiple U.S. states seeking evidence that could support a criminal investigation into allegations of mismanagement in Switzerland. The filings concern Infantino’s efforts to sell stakes in the World Cup, a controversial plan that has attracted intense scrutiny and criticism.

Earlier in the week, Infantino’s private jet followed an unusual itinerary, flying from Paris—where the FIFA president attended the Esports World Cup—to Mallorca for a brief stop, then on to Pisa before ultimately flying to Hanoi for the ASEAN Cup final. The brief visit to Hanoi has drawn attention due to possible connections involving Josh Kushner, brother-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, whose investment firm Thrive Capital is linked to the broader scandal.

Qatar appears to be navigating a delicate balance by continuing to support Infantino while seeking to maintain favorable relations with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in its bid to host the 2036 Olympics. Unlike FIFA, many international sports federations view private equity involvement as a necessary source of funding. Nevertheless, there is notable concern within the Olympic movement regarding the lack of transparency and governance surrounding Infantino’s commercial initiatives.

As investigations progress, the fallout from the World Cup rights controversy continues to complicate Infantino’s leadership and raise questions about the governance practices within global football’s governing bodies.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.