FIFA spent $4M on Trump Tower office that mostly sits empty
A costly suite with few occupants
FIFA spent $4 million renting a suite in New York City's Trump Tower, and according to a report, the space mostly sits empty. The governing body signed a lease of more than seven years about a year before this summer's World Cup, sources told The New York Times.
Most of FIFA's American employees work out of two offices in Miami, and there are currently no plans to staff the Trump Tower location, the sources said.
Concerns over rent and presidential links
Some senior FIFA leaders have reportedly expressed concern about the deal, citing its pricey rent, its links to President Donald Trump, and the fact that the governing body has no clear need to rent such space.
The arrangement has also highlighted the close relationship between Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who attended Trump's 2025 inauguration and later that year presented the president with the FIFA Peace Prize. The two men's relationship can be traced back to 2018, and they appeared to grow closer during Trump's second term as the 2026 World Cup began.
During the tournament, Trump said he called Infantino personally after U.S. player Folarin Balogun was handed a red card. Balogun was eventually allowed to play, a decision that drew fierce backlash. Infantino's conduct during the World Cup, as well as a plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup and other competitions, have also been met with fierce criticism.
FIFA defends the lease
In response to questions about the lease, FIFA told the Times that it "complies with all local laws" and "was signed in accordance with FIFA's standard internal process." The decision to open the Trump Tower office was led by Infantino, two sources told the Times.
The nearly 5,000-square-foot space is mostly used for special events, as well as during the United Nations General Assembly, FIFA said. "New York is a global city, and FIFA is a global organization; it is therefore logical for FIFA to have a presence there," a FIFA spokesperson told the Times.
The White House declined to comment to the Times on the report.
Former officials raise conflict-of-interest concerns
Miguel Maduro, a former governance head at FIFA, told the Times the lease may be a conflict of interest. "This deal with the Trump Organization raises a clear conflict of interest in the light of FIFA's interests in the U.S. World Cup or its partnership with President Trump's Board of Peace," Maduro said.
Alex Phillips, a former FIFA official, called the new office "a completely unnecessary level of pandering."
A relationship under scrutiny
Trump received the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize from Infantino in December 2025. In a press release detailing the award, FIFA credited Trump for his "pivotal role" in promoting peace between Israel and Palestine. The award came just months after Venezuelan activist María Corina Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, despite the U.S. president insisting he deserved the accolade.
Earlier this year, Infantino attended a meeting of Trump's Board of Peace, which is helping rebuild Gaza after its conflict with Israel. Infantino confirmed that FIFA would build an academy and a 20,000-seat stadium in Gaza.
Infantino's relationship with Trump has also prompted an ethics complaint from Norway's football federation, which accuses him of possible abuse of power and conflict of interest.
Background
Scrutiny of Infantino has intensified in recent months. In October 2026, Sky Sports reported that US tax filings showed Infantino received £1.3m ($1.76m) in 2024 from FWC2026, the company set up to organise the World Cup, in addition to his reported FIFA compensation. FIFA says it met all disclosure requirements and denies paying him a second salary.