FIFA signed a lease for office space in New York’s Trump Tower worth approximately $4 million over more than seven years, according to two officials involved in the agreement and internal documents reviewed. The nearly 5,000-square-foot suite, located on the 17th floor, was unveiled in a high-profile opening event about a year prior to the 2026 World Cup. Despite the significant cost, the office remains largely unoccupied and is primarily used for special events and meetings during the annual United Nations General Assembly, with most of FIFA’s American operations based in Miami.
The arrangement, driven by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, has sparked concern within the organization. Several senior officials questioned the necessity of securing office space in a Trump-linked building in a high-tax state, especially given the lack of a clear business need. Officials also noted potential tax implications, prompting FIFA to work with legal advisors to ensure that no commercial activities would occur in New York to avoid such liabilities.
FIFA defended the lease, stating that the rental price was in line with market rates and that the agreement complied with all local laws and internal approval processes. The organization emphasized that maintaining a presence in New York, described as a global city, aligns with FIFA’s status as an international body.
Critics have raised questions about potential conflicts of interest stemming from the decision to lease space from the Trump Organization. Miguel Maduro, a former head of governance at FIFA, highlighted concerns that the deal might conflict with FIFA’s own conflict-of-interest rules, given President Trump’s role and the organization’s interests in the U.S. World Cup and its partnership involving a peace award named after Trump. Additionally, Norway’s soccer federation has filed an ethics complaint related to Infantino’s relationship with the former U.S. president.
Infantino’s ties to Trump have drawn intense scrutiny beyond the office lease. During the World Cup, FIFA lifted a suspension on U.S. striker Folarin Balogun following a call between Infantino and Trump, a move that sparked accusations of political interference. Post-tournament, Infantino has been investigated over secret negotiations to sell rights to future tournaments to a private fund linked to Jared Kushner’s brother, prompting threats of legal action by European soccer authorities. Infantino has dismissed these criticisms as harassment.
A former FIFA official described the Trump Tower office as an unnecessary gesture of favoritism, reflecting broader concerns about the relationship between the global soccer organization and the Trump family. FIFA has no plans to fully staff the New York office, underscoring questions about the practical value of the lease. The Trump Organization and the White House declined to comment on the matter.