How FIFA and the FBI have joined forces for 2026 World Cup… 10 years on from shocking corruption raids

Cameras began to flash as Gianni Infantino held out his hand. The FIFA president was in Miami, being paid a visit by US officials including attorney general Pam Bondi and FBI director Kash Patel.

They posed for a photoshoot and exchanged gifts paper-wrapped in gold. Infantino boasted about the ‘great collaborative spirit’ in pursuit of a shared goal: to ‘entertain and bring joy to billions worldwide’.

They had gathered at FIFA’s Miami offices for an ‘important meeting’ ahead of two pivotal summers for soccer in the United States: a new Club World Cup will be launched later this year and in 2026, an expanded 48-team World Cup will be held in Canada, Mexico and the US.

Both tournaments represent a mammoth logistical operation and security is the No 1 priority. Particularly given the tragedy and terrorism that has affected US sporting events in recent months.

Footage of last week’s meeting was posted on Instagram by Infantino, who has been on a charm offensive around the US for several months. It has taken him to the inauguration of Donald Trump and inside the Oval Office. He has watched LIV Golf and sat courtside at the Orlando Magic and scaled the Rocky steps of Philadelphia.

And yet none of those photo opportunities were soaked in as much symbolism as that meeting in Miami. It was a reminder of how much has changed and how much is left to do.

(L-R) FBI director Kash Patel, FIFA president Gianni Infantino, and attorney general Pam Bondi

Back in May 2015, Swiss police arrested several FIFA officials at a five-star hotel in Zurich

FBI agents carry out boxes from the headquarters of CONCACAF in Miami after it was raided 

Next summer, the United States, Canada and Mexico will host the expanded soccer World Cup

After all, next month marks 10 years since the predecessors of Patel and Bondi faced the cameras once more. To shed light on FIFA’s darkest days. On May 27, 2015, plain-clothed Swiss police officers raided a five-star hotel in Zurich and detained several high-ranking soccer officials.

The arrests were made on behalf of authorities in the United States, following a investigation by the FBI that had been ongoing for more than three years. The accused were covered by sheets as they were led into unmarked cars.

That same day, in Brooklyn, 14 people were charged with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies over an alleged ‘24-year scheme to enrich themselves through the corruption of international soccer.’

The trail of this investigation led all the way back to lower Manhattan and an organized crime unit led by a longtime Mob investigator. They were looking into criminal groups from Eastern Europe when they began to suspect bribery had reached soccer’s showpiece tournament.

In May 2015, then-attorney general, Loretta Lynch, announced the charges, flanked by then-FBI director James Comey. The offices of CONCACAF were also raided. Their headquarters were in Miami.

‘The indictment alleges corruption that is rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted,’ Lynch said, with Comey adding: ‘Undisclosed and illegal payments, kickbacks, and bribes became a way of doing business at FIFA.’ Several executives in sports media and promotion were alleged to have paid more than $100million in bribes over three decades. The defendants were threatened with 20 years behind bars.

Some had already been convicted, including late FIFA official Charles ‘Chuck’ Blazer. He was once branded the organization’s ‘virtuoso deal maker’. He was pictured alongside the likes of Vladimir Putin and Nelson Mandela and Pope John Paul II. After agreeing to become a whistleblower, however, Blazer was visited by FBI agents. According to ESPN, he once stood in his $18,000-a-month apartment in Trump Tower, wearing only an adult diaper as a wire was fixed to his 400lb frame.

The ‘important meeting’ came ahead of two crucial summers for soccer in the United States

Infantino is pictured in the Oval Office as Donald Trump establishes a World Cup Task Force

Attorney general Loretta Lynch announces charges against FIFA officials in New York in 2015

Infantino took over from Sepp Blatter, who was in charge during the corruption scandal

These days, the FBI is working with FIFA officials in a strikingly different capacity. Infantino took over as president in 2016, succeeding the disgraced Sepp Blatter. He was suspended from football in 2015 by FIFA for ethics breaches, originally for eight years, although that was later reduced. 

His attempts to shed the skin of previous administrations have – at times – seen him lead FIFA from the frying pan towards the fire. Infantino was bombarded with criticism after accusing the West of ‘hypocrisy’ over human rights and the Qatar World Cup.

More recently, he has come under fire for taking a selfie near Pele’s open coffin and for his relationship with Trump. The expansion of both the Club World Cup and World Cup was met with furious criticism, too. FIFA are under no illusions: trust must be re-established after all the damage to the organization’s reputation and credibility. Hence why Infantino has been on his American road trip. But these next two summers are about more than PR.

Mail Sport understands that leading FIFA figures – including Infantino – have met with the FBI three times in the past couple of weeks. Many more meetings are in the diary as the two bodies look to strengthen ties ahead of this summer.

The Club World Cup will bring 32 teams to the United States and – in terms of security – act as a de facto dry run for the biggest event in sporting history. FIFA are working with the FBI, the Department of Justice, law enforcement – at a federal, state and local level – and a new White House Task Force chaired by Trump himself.

There are lessons to be learned. Last February, the Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade descended into carnage after a deadly shooting broke out. Ahead of this year’s NFL showpiece, a terrorist rammed a pickup truck into a crowd in New Orleans. And last summer, Copa America saw its own share of chaos. 

After the semi-final between Uruguay and Colombia, Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez leapt into the stands to confront rival fans; the final saw dangerous fan crushes and security breaches at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.

The expansion from 32 to 48 teams means the number of World Cup games has now mushroomed from 64 to 104 across 16 host cities. The US will host around 75 percent of matches, including the quarterfinals and semifinals and final.

Late FIFA executive Charles ‘Chuck’ Blazer became a key whistleblower in the FBI’s case

The Copa America final saw dangerous crushes and security breaches at Hard Rock Stadium

Last February, the Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade descended into carnage after a deadly shooting 

GB Jones, the chief safety and security officer for next summer’s World Cup, recently gave an insight into the preparations. At previous tournaments, security and event planning has been left to local authorities. In 2026, FIFA will help oversee the operation.

Jones – a former FBI agent and NFL security director – claimed investment ‘in good security policy… will be game changing as we go through the next decade.’ Between 2028 and 2034, the US will host the Summer and Winter Olympics, as well as two Rugby World Cups.

It was last month reported by The Athletic that American host cities are lobbying for $625m in federal funding to ‘support increased security’ for what has been compared to ‘104 Super Bowls in 29 days.‘

A letter, signed by nearly 50 members of Congress, reportedly underscored that the scale of the tournament brings unprecedented security risks and made it ‘uniquely attractive target for malicious actors’ with intelligence ‘confirming an increase in threats targeting stadiums and public events.’

FIFA claims to be committing hundreds of millions of dollars to help fund the security operation. Infantino was in Washington DC earlier this week to continue his promotional tour for the Club World Cup. Each of the host cities, he said, will receive $1m ‘so that girls and boys here… can play, participate, be happy and enjoy our beautiful game.’

But all that relies on these tournaments running smoothly. So very soon, the FBI will be back across the table – working with FIFA, rather than bringing them down.

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk