The Trump Tower that splashes onto Gianni Infantino

Today, Le Monde reveals one of the links between United States President Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, but going far beyond their friendship forged during the organization of the last World Cup or the Peace Prize that world football’s top governing body awarded to Trump himself. The French newspaper claims it has obtained documents proving that FIFA rented offices in Trump Tower that were empty for seven years for 4 million dollars.

"How much is the rent that the International Football Federation (FIFA) pays to the Trump clan, since the body set up an office on June 1, 2025 on the 17th floor of Trump Tower in New York? According to internal documents accessed by Le Monde, the global organization has agreed to pay a total of nearly 4 million dollars (3.57 million dollars) over seven years and seven months for the 450-square-meter premises, which remains for the most part unoccupied. The agreement highlights the close ties between FIFA president Gianni Infantino and the occupant of the White House, Donald Trump," Le Monde notes.

'FIFA, through its subsidiary FIFA Americas Incorporation, legally based in the state of Delaware, agreed to pay that amount to the New York-based company starting in June 2025 Trump Tower Commercial LLC, chaired by Eric Trump, son of Donald Trump, owner and manager of the building. "The contract was signed by four members of the board of directors in May 2025, with the signature of its secretary general, Mattias Grafström, on the first line," the French newspaper adds.'

According to these documents, FIFA did not visit other locations or compare offers with other companies before choosing Trump Tower as its headquarters. Contrary to what it had done in Miami. In light of these facts, several members of FIFA's administration internally expressed concern about the office lease, pointing to a possible conflict of interest and the fact that the process had not followed the usual procedure.

FIFA pays, on average, the private company linked to the U.S. president around $470,000 a year—or $41,000 a month—for 1701, according to calculations by the French outlet. In other words, market rates for offices of this size on New York’s Fifth Avenue. The lease contract includes "a fixed annual 2% increase [in rent] as a transfer of operating expenses." Although at the start of the contract a clause resembling a discount was included—fixed rent will be reduced by $19,000 per month during each of the first eight full months following the effective date—the amount is higher at the end of the contract: $533,000 for the last seven months, compared with $455,000 in the second year. "FIFA pays market-rate rent for these premises and complies with all local legislation," the international organization explained in response to Le Monde’s inquiry.